JBRARY 

NIVERSITY  OF 
CALIFORNIA 
JANTA  CRUZ 


/     3K* 

/        " 


it. 


V 


Vol 


s 


Letters 

Of  ...  '^-: 

Ulysses  S.  Grant 

to  his 
Father  and  his  Youngest  Sister 

Ulysses  Simpson  Grant 

From  a  photograph  by  W.  Kurtz,  N.  Y. 


r/iier 


With  Portraits 


G.   P.  Putnam's   Sons 

New    York  and    London 

Sbe  fmfcftertocfeer  prcee 

1912 


Letters 

of 

Ulysses  S.  Grant 

to  his 

Father  and  his  Youngest  Sister 
1857-78 

Edited  by  his  Nephew 

Jesse  Grant  Cramer 


With  Portraits 


G.   P.   Putnam's   Sons 

New    York    and    London 

Gbe  fmicfcerbocfcer  press 

1912 


COPYRIGHT,  1912 

BY 
JESSE  GRANT  CRAMER 


TTbe  ftnfcberbocRer  press,  ttew  tforfe 


£• 


PREFACE 

THERE  has  of  late  years  been  a  tendency, 
as  a  result  of  the  teachings  of  certain 
historical  authorities,  to  minimize  the  in- 
fluence of  the  leadership  of  the  so-called  Great 
Men,  and  to  question  the  importance  of  their 
work  as  a  factor  in  shaping  the  history  of  the  time. 
Great  events  are  referred  to  as  brought  about  by 
such  general  influences  as  "the  spirit  of  the  time" 
(Goethe's  Zeitgeist),  the  "movement  of  humanity," 
or  "forces  of  society."  If  we  accepted  the  theo- 
ries of  the  writers  of  this  school,  we  should  be 
forced  to  the  conclusion  that  generations  of  men 
move  across  the  world's  stage  impelled  by  forces 
entirely  outside  of  themselves;  and  that  as  far 
as  the  opportunity  of  individual  action  is  con- 
cerned, that  is  for  action  initiated  and  completed 
under  his  own  will-power,  man  might  almost  as 
well  be  a  squirrel  working  in  a  revolving  cage. 
The  squirrel  imagines  that  he  moves  the  cylinder, 
but  the  outsider  knows  that  the  movement  is 

iii 


iv  Preface 

predetermined,  and  that  there  is  no  change  of 
position  and  no  net  result  from  the  exertion. 

A  large  number  of  people  hold,  notwithstanding, 
to  the  old-time  feeling  expressed,  and  doubtless 
exaggerated  and  over-emphasized,  in  such  books  as 
Carlyle's  Hero  Worship.  They  are  unwilling,  and 
in  fact  they  find  it  practically  impossible,  to  get 
away  from  the  belief  that  the  thought  of  the  time 
is  directed  by  the  great  thinkers,  and  that  the 
action  of  the  community  is  influenced  and  largely 
shaped  by  the  power,  whether  this  be  utilized  for 
good  or  for  evil,  of  the  great  men  of  action. 

In  any  case,  men  will  continue  to  be  interested 
in  the  personalities  of  the  leaders  whose  names  are 
connected  with  the  great  events  of  history.  The 
citizens  of  each  nation  look  back  with  legitimate 
pride  upon  the  patriotic  work  of  those  who  have 
helped  to  found  the  state,  or  to  maintain  its 
existence. 

Among  the  national  leaders  whose  names  will 
always  hold  an  honorable  place  in  American 
history  is  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  the  simple-hearted 
man  and  capable  soldier,  to  whose  patriotism, 
courage,  persistence,  and  skill  was  so  largely  due 
the  successful  termination  of  the  war  between  the 
States,  the  contest  which  assured  the  foundations 
of  the  Republic.  We  are  interested  not  only  in 


Preface  v 

learning  what  this  man  did,  but  in  coming  to  know, 
as  far  as  may  be  practicable,  what  manner  of  man 
he  was.  It  is  all-important  in  a  study  of  develop- 
ment of  character  to  have  placed  within  reach  the 
utterances  of  the  man  himself.  There  is  no  utter- 
ance that  can  give  as  faithful  a  picture  of  a  man's 
method  of  thought  and  principle  of  action  as  the 
personal  letter  written,  with  no  thought  of  later 
publication,  to  those  who  are  near  to  him. 

The  publishers  deem  themselves  fortunate,  there- 
fore, in  being  able  to  place  before  the  fellow-citizens 
of  General  Grant  who  are  appreciative  of  the  great 
service  rendered  by  him  to  the  country,  and  who 
are  interested  also  in  the  personality  of  the  man,  a 
series  of  letters  written  to  members  of  his  family 
or  to  near  friends.  These  letters,  dating  back  to 
the  time  of  his  youth,  give  a  clear  and  trustworthy 
impression  of  the  nature  of  the  man  and  of  the 
development  of  character  and  of  force  that  made 
possible  his  all-valuable  leadership. 

The  plan  for  the  publication  of  these  letters  had 
received  the  cordial  approval  of  General  Grant's 
son,  the  late  General  Frederick  D.  Grant,  and  it  is 
only  because  of  his  sudden  death,  which  has  brought 
sorrow  upon  a  great  circle  of  friends  and  upon  the 
community  at  large,  that  the  publishers  are  pre- 
vented from  including  with  the  volume  a  letter 


vi  Preface 

from  the  General  as  the  head  of  the  Grant  family, 
giving  formal  expression  to  his  personal  interest 
in  the  undertaking. 

This  collection  of  letters  will  constitute  a  suitable 
companion  volume  to  Grant's  Personal  Memoirs 
and  to  the  accepted  biographies  of  the  Great  Com- 
mander whose  memory  is  honored  by  his  fellow- 
citizens  not  only  for  the  patience,  persistence,  and 
skill  of  the  leader  of  armies,  as  evidenced  in  the 
brilliant  campaigns  that  culminated  with  Vicks- 
burg,  Missionary  Ridge,  and  Appomattox,  but  for 
the  sturdy  integrity  of  character,  modest  bearing, 
and  sweetness  of  nature  of  the  great  citizen. 

GEO.  HAVEN  PUTNAM. 
NEW  YORK,  April  25,  1912. 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


FACING 

PAGE 


ULYSSES  SIMPSON  GRANT      .         .         .    Frontispiece 
From  a  photograph  by  W.  Kurtz,  New  York. 


JESSE  ROOT  GRANT,  ^ETAT.  69      .         .         .         .12 

Father  of  Ulysses  Simpson  Grant. 
From  a  photograph. 

MRS.  HANNAH  GRANT  ......      20 

Mother  of  Ulysses  Simpson  Grant. 

From  a  photograph  by  Landy,  taken  in  Cincinnati. 

FACSIMILE    OF   A    LETTER    WRITTEN  BY   ULYSSES 
SIMPSON  GRANT  TO  HIS  FATHER         ...       24 

FACSIMILE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT'S  PROCLAMATION  TO 
THE  CITIZENS  OF  PADUCAH         ....       56 

GENERAL  ULYSSES  SIMPSON  GRANT        .         .         .106 

From  a  photograph  taken  in  1865  by  Gutekunst,  Phila- 
delphia. 

ULYSSES  SIMPSON  GRANT      .....     128 

From  a  photograph  taken  during  his  second  term  as 
President. 


vii 


Letters  of 
Ulysses  S.  Grant 


[IN  1843,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  Ulysses  S.  Grant  was 
graduated  from  West  Point  with  the  rank  of  brevet  second 
lieutenant.  He  was  appointed  to  the  4th  Infantry,  stationed 
at  Jefferson  Barracks  near  St.  Louis.  In  May,  1844,  he  was 
ordered  to  the  frontier  of  Louisiana  with  the  army  of  obser- 
vation, while  the  annexation  of  Texas  was  pending.  The 
bill  for  the  annexation  of  Texas  was  passed  March  i,  1845 ; 
the  war  with  Mexico  began  in  April,  1846.  Grant  was  pro- 
moted to  a  first-lieutenancy  September,  1 847.  The  Mexican 
War  closed  in  1848.  Both  this  war  and  the  Civil  War  he 
characterizes  in  his  Memoirs  as  "unholy. " 

Soon  after  his  return  from  Mexico  he  was  married  to 
Julia  Dent.  The  next  six  years  were  spent  in  military  duty 
in  Sacketts  Harbor,  New  York,  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  on 
the  Pacific  coast.  He  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy  of  a 
company  in  1853;  but  because  of  the  inadequacy  of  a  cap- 
tain's pay,  he  resigned  from  the  army,  July,  1854,  and 
rejoined  his  wife  and  children  at  St.  Louis.  In  speaking  of 
this  period  Grant  says,  "I  was  now  to  commence  at  the  age 
of  thirty-two  a  new  struggle  for  our  support. " 

The  first  chapter  in  this  new  struggle  was  farming.  The 
following  letter  was  written  to  his  youngest  sister  Mary, 
then  sixteen  years  old,  afterward  Mrs.  M.  J.  Cramer. 
"Jennie,"  afterward  Mrs.  A.  R.  Corbin,  was  the  second 
sister,  Virginia.] 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 
August  22nd,  1857. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

YOUR  letter  was  received  on  last  Tuesday, 
the  only  day  in  the  week  on  which  we  get 
mail,  and  this  is  the  earliest  opportunity  I 
have  had  of  posting  a  letter. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  that  mother  and  Jennie 
intend  making  us  a  visit.  I  would  advise  them 
to  come  by  the  river  if  they  prefer  it.  Write 
to  me  beforehand  about  the  time  you  will  start, 
and  from  Louisville  again,  what  boat  you  will 
be  on,  direct  to  St.  Louis, — not  Sappington, 
P.  O.— and  I  will  meet  you  at  the  river  or  Plan- 
ter's House,  or  wherever  you  direct. 

We  are  all  very  well.  Julia  contemplates  visiting 
St.  Charles  next  Saturday  to  spend  a  few  days. 
She  has  never  been  ten  miles  from  home,  except  to 
come  to  the  city,  since  her  visit  to  Covington. 

I  have  nothing  in  particular  to  write  about. 
My  hard  work  is  now  over  for  the  season  with 
a  fair  prospect  of  being  remunerated  in  every- 
thing but  the  wheat.  My  wheat,  which  would 

3 


4  Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

have  produced  from  four  to  five  hundred  bushels 
with  a  good  winter,  has  yielded  only  seventy- 
five.  My  oats  were  good,  and  the  corn,  if  not 
injured  by  frost  this  fall,  will  be  the  best  I  ever 
raised.  My  potato  crop  bids  fair  to  yield  fifteen 
hundred  bushels  or  more.  Sweet  potatoes,  melons 
and  cabbages  are  the  only  other  articles  I  am 
raising  for  market.  In  fact,  the  oats  and  corn  I 
shall  not  sell. 

I  see  I  have  written  a  part  of  this  letter  as  if 
I  intended  to  direct  to  one,  and  part  as  if  to  the 
other  of  you;  but  you  will  understand  it,  so  it 
makes  no  difference. 

Write  to  me  soon  and  often.    Julia  wears  black. 
I  had  forgotten  to  answer  that  part  of  your  letter. 
Your  affectionate  Brother, 

ULYSS. 

P.  S.  Tell  father  that  I  have  this  moment  seen 
Mr.  Ford,  just  from  Sacketts  Harbor,  who  informs 
me  that  while  there  he  enquired  of  Mr.  Bagley 
about  my  business  with  Camp,  and  learns  from 
him  that  the  account  should  be  acted  upon  im- 
mediately. Camp  is  now  at  Governor's  Island, 
N.  Y.,  and  intends  sailing  soon  for  Oregon.  If  he 
is  stopped  he  may  be  induced  to  disgorge.  Tell 
father  to  forward  the  account  immediately. 

U. 


[WHITE  HAVEN  was  the  name  of  the  Dent  homestead 
near  St.  Louis.  Grant  has  rented  out  his  own  farm,  and 
taken  that  of  his  father-in-law. 

Written  to  his  sister  Mary.] 

"WHite  Haven, 
March  21st,  1858. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

YOUR  letter  was  received  one  week  ago  last 
Tuesday,  and  I  would  have  answered  it 
by  the  next  mail  but  it  so  happened  that 
there  was  not  a  sheet  of  paper  about  the  house, 
and  as  Spring  has  now  set  in,  I  do  not  leave  the 
farm  except  in  cases  of  urgent  necessity.  Father's 
letter,  enclosing  Mr.  Bagley's  relative  to  the 
Camp  business,  was  received  one  or  two  weeks 
earlier,  and  promptly  answered.  My  reply  was 
long,  giving  a  detailed  account  of  my  whole  trans- 
actions with  Camp,  and  a  copy  of  which  Father 
can  have  to  peruse  when  he  comes  along  this 
way  next. 

Julia  and  her  children  are  all  well  and  talk  of 
making  you  a  visit  next  fall, — but  I  hardly  think 
they  will  go.  But  if  any  of  you,  except  Father, 

5 


6  Letters  of 

should  visit  us  this  spring,  or  early  summer,  Julia 
says  that  Fred,  may  go  home  with  you  to  spend 
a  few  months.  She  says  she  would  be  afraid  to 
let  him  travel  with  Father  alone;  she  has  an  idea 
that  he  is  so  absent-minded  that  if  he  were  to 
arrive  in  Cincinnati  at  night  he  would  be  just 
as  apt  as  not  to  walk  out  of  the  cars  and  be  gone 
for  an  hour  before  he  would  recollect  that  he  had 
a  child  with  him.  I  have  no  such  fears  however. 
Fred  does  not  read  yet,  but  he  will,  I  think,  in 
a  few  weeks.  We  have  no  school  within  a  mile 
and  a  half,  and  that  is  too  far  to  send  him  in  the 
winter  season.  I  shall  commence  sending  him 
soon  however.  In  the  meantime  I  have  no  doubt 
but  that  he  is  learning  faster  at  home.  Little 
Ellen  is  growing  very  fast,  and  talks  now  quite 
plainly.  Jesse  R.  is  growing  very  rapidly,  is 
very  healthy  and,  they  say,  is  the  best  looking 
child  among  the  four.  I  don't  think  however 
there  is  much  difference  between  them  in  that 
respect. 

Emma  Dent  is  talking  of  visiting  her  relatives 
in  Ohio  and  Penn*  this  Summer,  and  if  she  does, 
she  will  stop  a  time  with  you.  Any  talk  of  any 
of  us  visiting  you,  must  not  stop  you  from  coming 
to  see  us.  The  whole  family  here  are  fond  of 
planning  visits,  but  poor  in  the  execution  of 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  7 

their  plans.  It  may  take  two  seasons  yet  before 
any  of  these  visits  are  made;  in  the  meantime, 
we  are  anxious  to  see  all  of  you.  For  my  part  I 
do  not  know  when  I  shall  ever  be  able  to  leave 
home  long  enough  for  a  visit.  I  may  possibly 
be  able  to  go  on  a  flying  visit  next  fall.  I  am 
anxious  to  make  one  more  visit  home  before  I 
get  old. 

This  Spring  has  opened  finely  for  farming  and 
I  hope  to  do  well;  but  I  shall  wait  until  the  crops 
are  gathered  before  I  make  any  predictions. 
I  have  now  three  negro  men,  two  hired  by  the 
year  and  one  of  Mr.  Dent's,  which,  with  my  own 
help,  I  think,  will  enable  me  to  do  my  farming 
pretty  well  with  assistance  in  harvest.  I  have 
however  a  large  farm.  I  shall  have  about  twenty 
acres  of  potatoes,  twenty  of  corn,  twenty-five 
of  oats,  fifty  of  wheat,  twenty-five  of  meadow, 
some  clover,  Hungarian  grass  and  other  smaller 
products,  all  of  which  require  labor  before  they 
are  got  into  market,  and  the  money  realized 
upon  them.  You  are  aware,  I  believe,  that  I 
have  rented  out  my  place  and  have  taken  Mr. 
Dent's.  There  are  about  two  hundred  acres  of 
ploughed  land  on  it  and  I  shall  have,  in  a  few 
weeks,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
woods  pasture  fenced  up  besides.  Only  one  side 


8          Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

of  it  and  a  part  of  another  has  to  be  fenced 
to  take  the  whole  of  it  in,  and  the  rails  are  all 
ready.  I  must  close  with  the  wish  that  some  of 
you  would  visit  us  as  early  as  possible.  In  your 
letter  you  ask  when  my  note  in  bank  becomes 
due.  The  seventeenth  of  Apl.  is  the  last  day 
of  grace  when  it  must  be  paid. 

Give  Julia's,  the  children's,  and  my  love  to  all 
at  home  and  write  soon. 

Your  Brother 
ULYSSES. 


[WHEN  a  boy  Grant  suffered  severely  from  fever  and  ague. 
This  attack  now  lasted  a  year  and  was  probably  a  factor  in 
determining  him  to  give  up  farming. 

To  his  sister  Mary.] 

St.  Loxiis,  Mo. 
Sept.  7tH,  1858. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

YOUR  letter  was  received  in  due  time  and  I 
should  have  answered  it  immediately,  but 
that  I  had  mailed  a  letter  from  Julia  to 
Jennie  the  morning  of  the  receipt  of  yours.  I 
thought  then  to  wait  for  two  or  three  weeks; 
by  that  time  there  was  so  much  sickness  in  my 
family,  and  Freddy  so  dangerously  ill,  that  I 
thought  I  would  not  write  until  his  fate  was 
decided.  He  was  nearly  taken  from  us  by  the 
bilious,  then  by  the  typhoid  fever;  but  he  is  now 
convalescing.  Some  seven  of  the  negroes  have 
been  sick.  Mrs.  Sharp  is  here  on  a  visit,  and  she 
and  one  of  her  children  are  sick;  and  Julia  and 
I  are  both  sick  with  chills  and  fever.  If  I  had 
written  to  you  earlier  it  would  have  been  whilst 
Fred's  case  was  a  doubtful  one,  and  I  did  not 

9 


io        Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

want  to  distress  you  when  it  could  have  done 
no  good  to  anyone. — I  have  been  thinking  of 
paying  you  a  visit  this  fall,  but  I  now  think  it 
extremely  doubtful  whether  I  shall  be  able  to. 
Not  being  able  to  even  attend  to  my  hands, 
much  less  work  myself,  I  am  getting  behindhand, 
so  that  I  shall  have  to  stay  here  and  attend  to 
my  business.  Cannot  some  of  you  come  and 
pay  us  a  visit?  Jennie  has  not  answered  Julia's 
letter  yet.  Did  she  receive  it?  1  was  coming 
to  the  city  the  day  it  was  written  to  hear  a  politi- 
cal speech,  and  it  was  too  late  to  get  it  in  the 
post  office,  so  I  gave  it  to  a  young  man  to  put  in 
the  next  morning.  It  is  for  this  reason  I  asked 
the  question. 

Write  to  me  soon.    I  hope  you  have  had  none 
of  the  sickness  we  have  been  troubled  with. 

Your  Brother, 

ULYSSES. 
To  MARY  F.  GRANT, 

Covington,  Ky. 


[SOON  after  the  date  of  this  letter  Grant  sold  at  auction  his 
stock,  crops,  and  farming  implements,  and  gave  up  farming. 
His  father,  Jesse  Root  Grant,  had  founded  a  leather  store 
in  Galena  with  the  expectation  of  establishing  his  three  sons 
in  the  business,  and  withdrawing  from  all  connection  with  it 
himself.  It  is  this  business  opportunity  that  is  referred  to 
here  with  characteristic  independence,  "  I  should  prefer  your 
offer  to  any  one  of  mere  salary  that  could  be  offered. "  But 
it  was  not  until  May,  1860,  that  he  went  to  Galena,  nomin- 
ally as  a  clerk,  in  reality  as  a  future  partner  in  the  business.] 

St.  Louis, 
Oct.  1st,  1858. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

I  ARRIVED  at  home  on  Tuesday  evening, 
and,  it  being  my  "  chill "  day,  of  course 
felt  very  badly.  Julia  had  been  much  worse 
during  my  absence,  but  had  improved  again  so 
that  I  found  her  about  as  when  I  left  home.  Fred, 
has  improved  steadily,  and  can  now  hear  nearly 
as  well  as  before  his  sickness.  The  rest  of  the 
family  are  tolerably  well,  with  the  exception  of 
Mr.  Dent  whose  health  seems  to  be  about  as  when 
I  left.  Mr.  Dent  and  myself  will  make  a  sale 
this  fall  and  get  clear  of  all  the  stock  on  the  place, 

and  then  rent  out  the  cleared  land  and  sell  about 

ii 


12        Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

four  hundred  acres  of  the  north  end  of  the  place. 
As  I  explained  to  you,  this  will  include  my  place. 
I  shall  plan  to  go  to  Covington  towards  Spring, 
and  would  prefer  your  offer  to  any  one  of  mere 
salary  that  could  be  offered.  I  do  not  want 
any  place  for  permanent  stipulated  pay,  but 
want  the  prospect  of  one  day  doing  business  for 
myself.  There  is  a  pleasure  in  knowing  that 
one's  income  depends  somewhat  upon  his  own 
exertions  and  business  capacity,  that  cannot  be 
felt  when  so  much  and  no  more  is  coming  in, 
regardless  of  the  success  of  the  business  engaged 
in  or  the  manner  in  which  it  is  done. 

Mr.  Dent  thinks  I  had  better  take  the  boy  he 
has  given  Julia  along  with  me,  and  let  him  learn 
the  farrier's  business.  He  is  a  very  smart,  active 
boy,  capable  of  making  anything;  but  this  matter 
I  will  leave  entirely  to  you.  I  can  leave  him  here 
and  get  about  three  dollars  per  month  for  him 
now,  and  more  as  he  gets  older.  Give  my  love 
to  all  at  home. 

Yours  truly, 
ULYSSES. 

To  J.  R.  GRANT,  ESQ., 
Covington,  Ky. 


JESSE    ROOT   GRANT.      AETAT.    69 
FATHER    OF    ULYSSES    S.    GRANT 

From  a  photograph 


[AFTER  giving  up  farming  Grant  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business  in  St.  Louis,  with  a  Mr.  Boggs  as  partner. 
The  girls  referred  to  are  his  three  sisters.  Simpson  is  the 
brother  next  in  age  to  himself.] 

St.  L,ouis,  Mo., 
MarcK  12tH,  1859. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

IT  has  now  been  over  a  month,  I  believe,  since 
I  wrote  to  you  last,  although  I  expected  to 
have  written  again  the  next  week.  I  can 
hardly  tell  how  the  new  business  I  am  engaged 
in,  is  going  to  succeed,  but  I  believe  it  will  be 
something  more  than  a  support.  If  I  find  an 
opportunity  next  week  I  will  send  you  some  of 
our  cards,  which,  if  you  will  distribute  among 
such  persons  as  may  have  business  to  attend  to 
in  the  city,  such  as  buying  or  selling  property, 
collecting  either  rents  or  other  liabilities,  it  may 
prove  the  means  of  giving  us  additional  com- 
missions. Mr.  Benton  was  here  for  some  time 
and  used  to  call  in  to  see  me  frequently.  Whilst 
he  was  here  I  submitted  to  him  some  property 

for  sale,  belonging  to  a  Mr.  Tucker.     Since  Mr. 

13 


*4  Letters  of 

Benton's  departure,  Mr.  Tucker  has  called  several 
times  and  wants  me  to  submit  his  propositions 
again,  and  say  that  if  he  is  disposed  to  buy,  and 
pay  considerable  cash,  he  will  make  his  prices 
such  as  to  secure  to  him  a  good  investment.  I 
enclose  with  this  a  list  of  the  property,  and  prices, 
as  first  asked,  one  third  cash,  balance  one  and 
two  years.  Please  tell  Mr.  Benton  if  he  feels 
like  making  any  proposition  for  any  part  of  this 
property  to  let  me  know,  and  I  will  submit  it 
and  give  him  an  answer. 

We  are  living  now  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city 
full  two  miles  from  my  office.  The  house  is  a 
comfortable  little  one,  just  suited  to  my  means. 
We  have  one  spare  room,  and  also  a  spare  bed  in 
the  children's  room,  so  that  we  can  accommodate 
any  of  our  friends  that  are  likely  to  come  to  see 
us.  I  want  two  of  the  girls,  or  all  of  them  for 
that  matter,  to  come  and  pay  us  a  long  visit 
soon. 

Julia  and  the  children  are  well.  They  will 
not  make  a  visit  to  Kentucky  now.  I  was  anx- 
ious to  have  them  go  before  I  rented,  but  with 
four  children  she  could  not  go  without  a  servant, 
and  she  was  afraid  that  landing  so  often  as  she 
would  have  to  do  in  free  states,  she  might  have 
some  trouble.  Tell  one  of  the  girls  to  write 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  15 

soon.     Has  Simpson  gone  South?     Are  you  going 
to  the  city  to  live? 

Yours  truly, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 
To  J.  R.  GRANT,  ESQ., 
Covington,  Ky. 


[ORVIL  is  the  youngest  brother.  The  appointment  re- 
ferred to  was  one  for  the  position  of  County  Engineer. 

Free-Soilers:  "  The  Whig  party  had  ceased  to  exist  .  .  .; 
the  Know  Nothing  party  had  taken  its  place  but  was  on  the 
wane;  the  Republican  party  was  in  a  chaotic  state  and  had 
not  yet  received  a  name.  It  had  no  existence  in  the  Slave 
States  except  at  points  on  the  borders  next  to  Free  States. 
In  St.  Louis  city  and  county  what  afterwards  became  the 
Republican  party  was  known  as  the  Free  Soil  Democracy. " 
— Memoirs. 

Professorship  of  mathematics:  When  Grant  left  the 
Military  Academy  he  had  no  intention  of  remaining  in  the 
army.  He  then  expected  to  teach  mathematics,  and  had 
already  applied  for  such  a  position  at  West  Point.  At 
Jefferson  Barracks  his  chief  interest  was  the  study  of  higher 
mathematics  with  the  view  of  obtaining  a  professorship. 
The  Mexican  War,  however,  soon  drew  him  into  active 
military  life. 

The  real  estate  venture  was  unsuccessful ;  it  was  a  business 
even  then  much  overcrowded.  Necessity,  not  instability, 
dictated  the  various  experiments.] 

St.  Louis, 
Aug.  20tH,  1859. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

ON  last  Wednesday  I  received  your  letter,  and 
on  the  Monday  before  one  from  Mr.  Burk, 
from  both  of  which  I  much  regretted  to 
learn  of  Simpson's  continued  ill  health.     I  at  once 

16 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant        17 

wrote  to  Orvil,  whose  arrival  at  Galena  I  learned 
from  Burk's  letter,  to  urge  Simpson  to  come  by 
steamer  to  St.  Louis  and  spend  some  time  with  me, 
and  if  it  should  prove  necessary  for  anyone  to  ac- 
company him,  I  would  take  him  home.  Cannot 
Jennie  and  Orvil's  wife  come  this  way  when  they 
start  for  Galena?  We  would  like  very  much  to  see 
them. 

I  am  not  over  sanguine  of  getting  the  appoint- 
ment mentioned  in  my  last  letter.  The  Board  of 
Commissioners,  who  make  the  appointment,  are 
divided, — three  free  soilers  to  two  opposed, — and 
although  friends  who  are  recommending  me  are 
the  very  first  citizens  of  this  place,  and  members  of 
all  parties,  I  fear  they  will  make  strictly  party 
nominations  for  all  the  offices  under  their  control. 
As  to  the  professorship  you  speak  of,  that  was  filled 
some  time  ago.  And  were  it  not,  I  would  stand 
no  earthly  chance.  The  Washington  University, 
where  the  vacancy  was  to  be  filled,  is  one  of  the 
best  endowed  institutions  in  the  United  States, 
and  all  the  professorships  are  sought  after  by  per- 
sons whose  early  advantages  were  the  same  as  mine, 
but  who  have  been  engaged  in  teaching  all  their 
mature  years.  Quimby,  who  was  the  best  mathe- 
matician in  my  class,  and  who  was  for  several 
years  an  assistant  at  West  Point,  and  for  nine 


i8          Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

years  a  professor  in  an  institution  in  New  York, 
was  an  unsuccessful  applicant.  The  appointment 
was  given  to  the  most  distinguished  man  in  his 
department  in  the  country,  and  an  author.  His 
name  is  Shorano.  Since  putting  in  my  application 
for  the  appointment  of  County  Engineer,  I  have 
learned  that  the  place  is  not  likely  to  be  filled  be- 
fore February  next.  What  I  shall  do  will  depend 
entirely  upon  what  I  can  get  to  do.  Our  present 
business  is  entirely  overdone  in  this  city,  at  least  a 
dozen  new  houses  having  started  about  the  same 
time  I  commenced.  I  do  not  want  to  fly  from  one 
thing  to  another,  nor  would  I,  but  I  am  compelled 
to  make  a  living  from  the  start  for  which  I  am 
willing  to  give  all  my  time  and  all  my  energy. 

Julia  and  the  children  are  well  and  send  love  to 
you.  On  your  way  to  Galena  can  you  not  come 
by  here?  Write  to  me  soon. 

ULYSSES. 


[!N  regard  to  voting  for  Buchanan  for  President,  Grant 
says  in  his  Memoirs  that  he  believed  that  the  election  of  a 
Republican  President  in  1856  would  mean  the  secession  of 
all  the  slave  States  and  inevitable  rebellion.  Accordingly, 
he  preferred  the  success  of  a  candidate  whose  election  would 
prevent  or  postpone  secession,  to  seeing  the  country  plunged 
into  a  war  the  end  of  which  no  man  could  foretell.  "With 
a  Democrat  elected  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  Slave 
States,  there  would  be  no  pretext  for  secession  for  four  years. 
I  very  much  hoped  that  the  passions  of  the  people  would 
subside  in  that  time,  and  the  catastrophe  be  averted  alto- 
gether; if  it  were  not,  I  believed  the  country  would  be  better 
prepared  to  receive  the  shock  and  to  resist  it.  I  therefore 
voted  for  James  Buchanan  for  President."] 

St.  Loxiia, 
Sept.  23d,  1659. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

I  HAVE  waited  for  some  time  to  write  you  the 
result    of    the  action  of    the   County    Com- 
missioners upon  the  appointment  of  a  County 
Engineer.     The  question  has  at  length  been  settled, 
and  I  am  sorry  to  say,  adversely  to  me.     The  two 
Democratic  Commissioners  voted  for  me,  and  the 
Free  Boilers  against  me.     What  I  shall  now  go  at  I 

have  not  determined,  but  I  hope  something  before  a 

19 


20  Letters  of 

great  while.  Next  month  I  get  possession  of  my 
own  house,  when  my  expenses  will  be  reduced  so 
much  that  a  very  moderate  salary  will  support  me. 
If  I  could  get  the  $3000  note  cashed,  which  I  got 
as  the  difference  in  the  exchange  of  property,  I 
could  put  up  with  the  proceeds  two  houses  that 
would  pay  me,  at  least,  $40  per  month  rent.  The 
note  has  five  years  to  run,  with  interest  notes  given 
separately  and  payable  annually. 

We  are  looking  for  some  of  you  here  next  week 
to  go  to  the  fair.  I  wrote  to  Simpson  to  come  down 
and  see  me  but  as  I  have  had  no  answer  from  him 
nor  from  Orvil  to  a  letter  written  some  time 
before,  I  do  not  know  whether  he  will  come  or  not. 
I  should  like  very  much  to  have  some  of  you  come 
and  see  us  this  fall.  Julia  and  the  children  are  all 
very  well.  Fred  and  Buck  go  to  school  every  day. 
They  never  think  of  asking  to  stay  at  home. 

You  may  judge  from  the  result  of  the  action  of 
the  County  Commissioners  that  I  am  strongly 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  Such  is 
not  the  case.  I  never  voted  an  out  and  out  Demo- 
cratic ticket  in  my  life.  I  voted  for  Buchanan 
for  President  to  defeat  Fremont,  but  not  because 
he  was  my  first  choice.  In  all  other  elections  I 
have  universally  selected  the  candidates  that,  in 
my  estimation,  were  the  best  fitted  for  the  differ- 


• 


•' 


MRS.    HANNAH    GRANT 
MOTHER    OF    ULYSSES    S.    GRANT 

From  a  photograph  by  Landy,  taken  in  Cincinnati 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  21 

ent  offices,  and  it  never  happens  that  such  men  are 
all  arrayed  on  one  side.  The  strongest  friend  I 
had  in  the  Board  of  Commissioners  is  a  Free  Soiler 
but  opposition  between  parties  is  so  strong  that  he 
would  not  vote  for  any  one,  no  matter  how  friendly, 
unless  at  least  one  of  his  own  party  would  go  with 
him.  The  Free  Soil  party  felt  themselves  bound  to 
provide  for  one  of  their  own  party  who  was  de- 
feated for  the  office  of  County  Engineer;  a  German 
who  came  to  the  West  as  an  assistant  surveyor 
upon  the  public  lands,  and  who  has  held  an  office 
ever  since. 

There  is,  I  believe,  but  one  paying  office  in  the 
county  held  by  an  American,  unless  you  except  the 
office  of  Sheriff  which  is  held  by  a  Frenchman  who 
speaks  broken  English,  but  was  born  here. 

Write  to  me  soon.  Julia  and  the  children  join 
me  in  sending  love  to  all  of  you. 

Yours  truly, 
ULYSSES. 


[To  his  brother  Simpson.  This  letter  is  a  naive  expression 
of  a  fundamental  trait  in  Grant's  character,  belief  in  the 
essential  honesty  of  every  man.] 

St.  Louis, 
Oct.  24tH,  1859. 

DEAR  BROTHER: 

I  HAVE  been  postponing  writing  to  you  hoping 
to  make  a  return  for  your  horse,  but  as  yet 
I  have  received  nothing  for  him.  About 
two  weeks  ago  a  man  spoke  to  me  for  him  and  said 
that  he  would  try  him  the  next  day,  and  if  he  suited, 
give  me  $100  for  him.  I  have  not  seen  the  man 
since;  but  one  week  ago  last  Saturday  he  went  to 
the  stable  and  got  the  horse,  saddle  and  bridle, 
since  which  I  have  seen  neither  man  nor  horse. 
From  this  I  presume  he  must  like  him.  The  man, 
I  understand  lives  in  Florisant,  about  twelve  miles 
from  the  city. 

My  family  are  all  well  and  living  in  our  own 
house.  It  is  much  more  pleasant  than  where  we 
lived  when  you  were  here,  and  contains  practically 
about  as  much  room.  I  am  still  unemployed,  but 


22 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant         23 

expect  to  have  a  place  in  the  Custom  House  from 
the  first  of  next  month.  My  name  has  been  for- 
warded for  the  appointment  of  Superintendent, 
which,  if  I  do  not  get,  will  not  probably  be  filled  at 
all.  In  that  case  there  is  a  vacant  desk  which  I 
may  get  that  pays  $1200  per  annum.  The  other 
will  be  worth  from  $1500  to  $1800  and  will  occupy 
but  little  time. 

Remember  me  to  all  at  home.  There  is  a 
gentleman  here  who  has  lands  in  San  Antonio  de 
Bexar  County,  Texas,  that  would  like  to  get  you, 
should  you  go  there  this  winter,  to  look  after  them. 
If  you  go,  and  will  attend  to  his  business,  drop  me 
a  line  and  he  will  furnish  me  all  the  papers,  and 
instructions,  to  forward  to  you. 

Yours, 
U.  S.  GRANT. 

P.S.  The  man  that  has  your  horse  is  the  owner 
of  a  row  of  six  three  story  brick  houses  in  this  city, 
and  the  probabilities  are  that  he  intends  to  give  me 
an  order  on  his  agent  for  the  money  on  the  first  of 
the  month  when  the  rents  are  paid.  At  all  events 
I  imagine  the  horse  is  perfectly  safe. 

U.  S.  G. 


[GRANT  had  given  up  the  real  estate  business  and  had 
come  to  Galena  in  May,  1860,  as  has  been  said,  nominally  as 
a  clerk  in  his  father's  store,  but  really  as  a  prospective  part- 
ner in  the  business. 

In  March,  1861,  Lincoln  was  inaugurated  President. 
The  Confederates  proclaimed  themselves  aliens;  South 
Carolina  seceded;  other  Southern  States  followed;  Fort 
Sumter  was  fired  upon,  and  President  Lincoln  issued  his 
first  call  for  troops,  75,000  volunteers.  The  quota  for 
Illinois  had  been  fixed  at  six  regiments.  Galena  immedi- 
ately raised  a  company.  Grant  declined  the  captaincy  but 

promised  his  aid  in  every  way  possible.] 

i 

Galena, 
April  21st,  1861. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

"\\T  7E  are  now  in  the  midst  of  trying  times  when 
YY       every  one  must  be  for  or  against  his 
country,  and  show  his  colors  too,  by  his 
every  act.     Having  been  educated  for  such  an 
emergency,  at  the  expense  of  the  Government,  I 
feel  that  it  has  upon  me  superior  claims,  such 
claims  as  no  ordinary  motives  of  self-interest  can 
surmount.     I  do  not  wish  to  act  hastily  or  un- 
advisedly in  the  matter,  and  as  there  are  more 

than  enough  to  respond  to  the  first  call  of  the 

24 


St^f&&e<^J    s?i 


FACSIMILE   OF  A   LETTER   WRITTEN    BY   ULYSSES    S.   GRANT  TO   HIS    FATHER 


'ZST         c^^t^.         ^^t^^T          &^~    *&e*~£~ty~ 


s 


y*^*  — 


£7* 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant         25 

President,  I  have  not  yet  offered  myself.  I  have 
promised,  and  am  giving  all  the  assistance  I  can 
in  organizing  the  company  whose  services  have 
been  accepted  from  this  place.  I  have  promised 
further  to  go  with  them  to  the  State  capital,  and 
if  I  can  be  of  service  to  the  Governor  in  organizing 
his  state  troops  to  do  so.  What  I  ask  now  is  your 
approval  of  the  course  I  am  taking,  or  advice  in  the 
matter.  A  letter  written  this  week  will  reach  me  in 
Springfield.  I  have  not  time  to  write  to  you  but  a 
hasty  line,  for,  though  Sunday  as  it  is,  we  are  all 
busy  here.  In  a  few  minutes  I  shall  be  engaged  in 
directing  tailors  in  the  style  and  trim  of  uniform 
for  our  men. 

Whatever  may  have  been  my  political  opinions 
before,  I  have  but  one  sentiment  now.  That  is, 
we  have  a  Government,  and  laws  and  a  flag,  and 
they  must  all  be  sustained.  There  are  but  two 
parties  now,  traitors  and  patriots  and  I  want 
hereafter  to  be  ranked  with  the  latter,  and  I  trust, 
the  stronger  party.  I  do  not  know  but  you  may 
be  placed  in  an  awkward  position,  and  a  dangerous 
one  pecuniarily,  but  costs  cannot  now  be  counted. 
My  advice  would  be  to  leave  where  you  are  if  you 
are  not  safe  with  the  views  you  entertain.  I  would 
never  stultify  my  opinion  for  the  sake  of  a  little 
security. 


26        Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

I  will  say  nothing  about  our  business.     Orvil  and 
Lank  will  keep  you  posted  as  to  that. 
Write  soon  and  direct  as  above. 

Yours  truly, 
U.  S.  GRANT 


[To  his  sister  Mary.  Grant  organized  and  drilled  the 
Galena  company,  then  went  with  it  to  Springfield,  the  State 
capital,  and  mustered  it  into  the  State  service.  Governor 
Yates  then  requested  him  to  remain  and  assist  in  the  adju- 
tant-general's office,  because  he  realized  the  value  of  Grant's 
former  military  experience.  Shortly  after  this  the  Legis- 
lature authorized  the  State  to  accept  the  services  of  ten 
additional  regiments.  Governor  Yates  requested  Grant  to 
muster  these  new  troops  into  the  service. 

The  Aunt  Rachel  mentioned  was  a  sister  of  Jesse  R. 
Grant,  who  lived  in  Virginia.  She  had  a  large  plantation 
and  owned  many  slaves,  and  was  naturally  an  ardent  seces- 
sionist. A  heated  partisan  correspondence  was  carried  on 
during  this  time  between  the  aunt  and  the  niece  Clara, 
Grant's  oldest  sister.  In  the  letter  referred  to,  the  aunt 
writes,  "If  you  are  with  the  accursed  Lincolnites,  the  ties 
of  consanguinity  shall  be  forever  severed. "] 

Springfield, 
April  29tK,  1861. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

I  CAME  to   this  place  several  days  ago,  fully 
expecting  to  find  a  letter  here  for  me  from 
father.      As  yet  I   have  received  none.      It 
was  my  intention  to  have  returned  to  Galena  last 
evening,  but  the  Governor  detained  me,  and  I 

presume  will  want  me  to  remain  with  him  until  all 

27 


28  Letters  of 

the  troops  are  called  into  service,  or  those  to  be  so 
called,  are  fully  mustered  in  and  completely 
organized.  The  enthusiasm  throughout  this  state 
surpasses  anything  that  could  have  been  imagined 
three  weeks  ago.  Only  six  regiments  are  called 
for  here,  while  at  least  thirty  could  be  promptly 
raised.  The  Governor,  and  all  others  in  authority, 
are  harassed  from  morning  until  night  with  patrio- 
tic men,  and  such  political  influence  as  they  can 
bring,  to  obtain  first  promises  of  acceptance  of 
their  companies,  if  there  should  be  another  call  for 
troops.  The  eagerness  to  enter  companies  that 
were  accepted  by  the  Governor,  was  so  great  that 
it  has  been  impossible  for  Commanders  of  com- 
panies to  keep  their  numbers  within  the  limits  of 
the  law,  consequently  companies  that  have  arrived 
here  have  all  had  from  ten  to  sixty  men  more  than 
can  be  accepted.  The  Legislature  on  Saturday 
last  passed  a  bill  providing  for  the  maintenance  and 
discipline  of  these  surplus  troops  for  one  month, 
unless  sooner  mustered  into  service  of  the  United 
States  under  a  second  call. — I  am  convinced  that 
if  the  South  knew  the  entire  unanimity  of  the  North 
for  the  Union  and  maintenance  of  Law,  and  how 
freely  men  and  money  are  offered  to  the  cause, 
they  would  lay  down  their  arms  at  once  in  humble 
submission.  There  is  no  disposition  to  compromise 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  29 

now.  Nearly  every  one  is  anxious  to  see  the 
Government  fully  tested  as  to  its  strength,  and 
see  if  it  is  not  worth  preserving.  The  conduct  of 
eastern  Virginia  has  been  so  abominable  through 
the  whole  contest  that  there  would  be  a  great 
deal  of  disappointment  here  if  matters  should  be 
settled  before  she  is  thoroughly  punished.  This 
is  my  feeling,  and  I  believe  it  universal.  Great 
allowance  should  be  made  for  South  Carolinians, 
for  the  last  generation  have  been  educated,  from 
their  infancy,  to  look  upon  their  Government  as 
oppressive  and  tyrannical  and  only  to  be  endured 
till  such  time  as  they  might  have  sufficient  strength 
to  strike  it  down.  Virginia,  and  other  border 
states,  have  no  such  excuse  and  are  therefore 
traitors  at  heart  as  well  as  in  act.  I  should  like 
very  much  to  see  the  letter  Aunt  Rachel  wrote 
Clara!  or  a  copy  of  it.  Can't  you  send  it? 

When  I  left  Galena,  Julia  and  the  children  were 
very  well.  Jesse  had  been  very  sick  for  a  few  days 
but  was  getting  much  better.  I  have  been  very 
anxious  that  you  should  spend  the  summer  with  us. 
You  have  never  visited  us  and  I  don't  see  why  you 
can't.  Two  of  you  often  travel  together,  and  you 
might  do  so  again,  and  come  out  with  Clara.  I 
do  not  like  to  urge  anything  of  the  kind,  lest  you 
should  think  that  I  ignored  entirely  the  question 


3°         Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

of  economy,  but  I  do  not  do  so.  The  fact  is  I  have 
had  my  doubts  whether  or  not  it  would  not  be  more 
prudent  for  all  of  you  to  lock  up  and  leave,  until 
the  present  excitement  subsides.  If  father  were 
younger  and  Simpson  strong  and  healthy,  I  would 
not  advise  such  a  course.  On  the  contrary,  I 
would  like  to  see  every  Union  man  in  the  border 
slave  states  remain  firm  at  his  post.  Every  such 
man  is  equal  to  an  armed  volunteer  at  this  time  in 
defence  of  his  country.  There  is  very  little  that 
I  can  tell  you  that  you  do  not  get  from  the  papers. 
Remember  me  to  all  at  home  and  write  to  me  at 
once,  to  this  place. 

BROTHER  ULYSSES. 


[GRANT  is  now  assisting  in  the  adjutant-general's  office, 
as  requested  by  Governor  Yates.  In  connection  with  the 
call  for  troops  and  the  enthusiastic  response,  he  says  else- 
where, "There  was  not  a  State  in  the  North  of  a  million 
inhabitants  that  would  not  have  furnished  the  entire  num- 
ber faster  than  arms  would  have  been  supplied  to  them,  if 
it  had  been  necessary. "] 

GENERAL  HEAD-QUARTERS,  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS, 
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE 

Springfield, 
May  2nd,  1861. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

YOUR  letter  of  the  24th  inst  was  received  the 
same  evening  one  I   had  written  to  Mary- 
was  mailed.     I  would  have  answered  earlier 
but  for  the  fact  I  had  just  written. 

I  am  not  a  volunteer,  and  indeed  could  not  be, 
now  that  I  did  not  go  into  the  first  Company 
raised  in  Galena.  The  call  of  the  President  was  so 
promptly  responded  to  that  only  those  companies 
that  organized  at  once,  and  telegraphed  their 
application  to  come  in,  were  received.  All  other 
applications  were  filed,  and  there  are  enough  of 

them  to  furnish  Illinois  quota  if  the  Army  should  be 

31 


32  Letters  of 

raised  to  300,000  men.  I  am  serving  on  the 
Governor's  staff  at  present  at  his  request,  but 
suppose  I  shall  not  be  here  long. 

I  should  have  offered  myself  for  the  Colonelcy  of 
one  of  the  Regiments,  but  I  find  all  those  places 
are  wanted  by  politicians  who  are  up  to  log-rolling, 
and  I  do  not  care  to  be  under  such  persons. 

The  war  feeling  is  not  abating  here  much, 
although  hostilities  appear  more  remote  than  they 
did  a  few  days  ago.  Three  of  the  six  Regiments 
mustered  in  from  this  state  are  now  at  Cairo,  and 
probably  will  be  reinforced  with  two  others  within 
a  few  days. 

Galena  has  several  more  companies  organized 
but  only  one  of  them  will  be  able  to  come  in  under 
a  new  call  for  ten  regiments.  Chicago  has  raised 
companies  enough  nearly  to  fill  all  the  first  call. 
The  Northern  feeling  is  so  fully  aroused  that  they 
will  stop  at  no  expense  of  money  and  men  to  insure 
the  success  of  their  cause. 

I  presume  the  feeling  is  just  as  strong  on  the 
other  side,  but  they  are  infinitely  in  the  minority 
in  resources. 

I  have  not  heard  from  Galena  since  coming  down 
here,  but  presume  all  is  moving  along  smoothly. 
My  advice  was  not  to  urge  collections  from  such 
men  as  we  knew  to  be  good,  and  to  make  no  efforts 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  33 

to  sell  in  the  present  distracted  state  of  our  cur- 
rency. The  money  will  not  buy  Eastern  exchange 
and  is  liable  to  become  worse;  I  think  that  thirty 
days  from  this  we  shall  have  specie,  and  the  bills 
of  good  foreign  banks  to  do  business  on,  and  then 
will  be  the  time  to  collect. 

If  Mary  writes  to  me  any  time  next  week  she 
may  direct  here  to 

ULYSSES. 


[E.  B.  WASHBURN  was  member  of  Congress  representing 
Galena.  Pillow  was  a  Confederate  general .  He  had  served 
in  the  Mexican  War,  where  Grant  had  learned  to  know  him. 

Grant  expresses  in  this  letter  the  opinion  that  the  war 
will  be  of  short  duration.  Many  believed  with  him  that  the 
war  would  be  over  in  thirty  days.  He  continued  to  think 
this  until  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  He  believed  that  there 
would  have  been  no  more  battles  in  the  West  after  the 
capture  of  Fort  Donelson  if  all  the  troops  in  that  region 
had  been  under  a  single  commander  who  would  have  fol- 
lowed up  that  victory.] 

Camp  "Yates,  near  Springfield, 

May  6tH,  1861. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

YOUR  second  letter,  dated  the  first  of  May  has 
just  come  to  hand.     I  commenced  writing 
you  a  letter  three  or  four  days  ago  but  was 
interrupted  so  often  that  I  did  not  finish  it.     I 
wrote  one  to  Mary  which  no  doubt  was  duly 
received,  but  do  not  remember  whether  it  answers 
your  questions  or  not. 

At  the  time  our  first  Galena  company  was  raised 
I  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  engage  in  hot  haste,  but 
took  an  active  interest  in  drilling  them,  and  impart- 
ing all  the  instruction  I  could,  and  at  the  request  of 

34 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant         35 

the  members  of  the  company,  and  of  Mr.  Wash- 
burn,  I  came  here  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  for  a 
short  time  in  camp,  and  of  offering,  if  necessary, 
my  services  for  the  war.  The  next  two  days  after 
my  arrival  it  was  rainy  and  muddy  so  that  the 
troops  could  not  drill  and  I  concluded  to  go  home. 
Governor  Yates  heard  it  and  requested  me  to 
remain.  Since  that  I  have  been  acting  in  that 
capacity,  and  for  the  last  few  days  have  been  in 
command  of  this  camp.  The  last  of  the  six 
regiments  called  for  from  this  State,  will  probably 
leave  by  tomorrow,  or  the  day  following,  and  then 
I  shall  be  relieved  from  this  command. 

The  Legislature  of  this  State  provided  for  the 
raising  of  eleven  additional  regiments  and  a  bat- 
talion of  artillery;  a  portion  of  these  the  Governor 
will  appoint  me  to  muster  into  the  service  of  the 
State,  when  I  presume  my  services  may  end.  I 
might  have  obtained  the  colonelcy  of  a  regiment 
possibly,  but  I  was  perfectly  sickened  at  the  politi- 
cal wire-pulling  for  all  these  commissions,  and 
would  not  engage  in  it.  I  shall  be  in  no  ways 
backward  in  offering  my  services  when  and  where 
they  are  required,  but  I  feel  that  I  have  done  more 
now  than  I  could  do  serving  as  a  captain  under  a 
green  colonel,  and  if  this  thing  continues  they  will 
want  more  men  at  a  later  day. 


36  Letters  of 

There  have  been  fully  30,000  more  volunteers 
who  have  offered  their  services,  than  can  be  ac- 
cepted under  the  present  call,  without  including 
the  call  made  by  the  State;  but  I  can  go  back  to 
Galena  and  drill  the  three  or  four  companies  there, 
and  render  them  efficient  for  any  future  call.  My 
own  opinion  is  that  this  war  will  be  but  of  short 
duration.  The  Administration  has  acted  most 
prudently  and  sagaciously  so  far  in  not  bringing  on 
a  conflict  before  it  had  its  forces  fully  marshalled. 
When  they  do  strike,  our  thoroughly  loyal  states 
will  be  fully  protected,  and  a  few  decisive  victories 
in  some  of  the  southern  ports  will  send  the  secession 
army  howling,  and  the  leaders  in  the  rebellion  will 
flee  the  country.  All  the  states  will  then  be  loyal 
for  a  generation  to  come.  Negroes  will  depreciate 
so  rapidly  in  value  that  nobody  will  want  to  own 
them,  and  their  masters  will  be  the  loudest  in  their 
declamation  against  the  institution  from  a  political 
and  economic  point  of  view.  The  negro  will  never 
disturb  this  country  again.  The  worst  that  is  to 
be  apprehended  from  him  is  now:  he  may  revolt 
and  cause  more  destruction  than  any  Northern 
man,  except  it  be  the  ultra-abolitionist,  wants  to 
see.  A  Northern  army  may  be  required  in  the 
next  ninety  days  to  go  South  to  suppress  a  negro 
insurrection.  As  much  as  the  South  have  vilified 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  37 

the  North,  that  army  would  go  on  such  a  mission 
and  with  the  purest  motives. 

I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  Julia.  All  are 
well.  Julia  takes  a  very  sensible  view  of  our 
present  difficulties.  She  would  be  sorry  to  have 
me  go,  but  thinks  the  circumstances  may  warrant 
it  and  will  not  throw  a  single  obstacle  in  the  way. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  the  valiant  Pillow  has  been 
planning  an  attack  on  Cairo;  but  as  he  will  learn 
that  that  point  is  well  garrisoned  and  that  they 
have  their  ditch  on  the  outside,  filled  with  water, 
he  will  probably  desist.  As,  however,  he  would 
find  it  necessary  to  receive  a  wound,  on  the  first 
discharge  of  firearms,  he  would  not  be  a  formidable 
enemy.  I  do  not  say  he  would  shoot  himself,  ah 
no!  I  am  not  so  uncharitable  as  many  who  served 
under  him  in  Mexico.  I  think,  however,  he  might 
report  himself  wounded  on  the  receipt  of  a  very 
slight  scratch,  received  hastily  in  any  way,  and 
might  irritate  the  sore  until  he  convinced  himself 
that  he  had  been  wounded  by  the  enemy. 

Tell  Simpson  that  I  hope  he  will  be  able  to 
visit  us  this  summer.  I  should  like  very  much  to 
have  him  stay  with  us  and  I  want  him  to  make  my 
house  his  home. 

Remember  me  to  all. 

ULYSSES. 


[GRANT  has  just  finished  mustering  into  State  service 
the  ten  additional  regiments  authorized  by  the  Legislature. 
He  then  returned  to  Galena  whence  he  wrote  to  Washington, 
May  24,  1861,  to  the  adjutant-general,  tendering  "his 
services  until  the  close  of  the  war  in  such  capacity  as  may 
be  offered. "  He  adds,  "  I  would  say  in  view  of  my  present 
age  and  length  of  service,  I  feel  myself  competent  to  com- 
mand a  regiment,  if  the  President  in  his  judgment  should 
see  fit  to  intrust  one  to  me. "  He  never  received  an  answer 
to  this  letter;  long  after,  it  was  found  not  properly  filed. 
Grant's  own  comment  is,  that  it  was  probably  barely  read 
by  the  adjutant-general  and  certainly  could  not  have  been 
submitted  to  higher  authority. 

The  day  he  wrote  this  letter  he  returned  to  Springfield 
to  find  that  Governor  Yates  had  already  appointed  him 
colonel  of  one  of  the  regiments  that  he  himself  had  recently 
mustered  into  the  State  service,  the  226.  Illinois  infantry.] 

Galena, 
May  3OtK,  1861. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

I  HAVE   now    been   home  nearly  a  week,  but 
return   to   Springfield    to-day.      I  have  ten- 
dered my  services  to  the   Government  and 
go  today  to  make  myself  useful,  if  possible,  from 
this  until  all  our  National  difficulties  are  ended. 

During  the  six  days  I  have  been  at  home  I  have 

38 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant  39 

felt  all  the  time  as  if  a  duty  were  being  neglected 
that  was  paramount  to  any  other  duty  I  ever  owed. 
I  have  every  reason  to  be  well  satisfied  with  myself 
for  the  services  already  rendered,  but  to  stop  now 
would  not  do. 

All  here  are  well.  Orvil  or  Lank  will  write  to 
you  in  a  day  or  two  and  tell  you  how  business 
matters  stand.  Write  to  me  at  Springfield. 

Yours  truly, 
U.  S.  GRANT. 


[AFTER  taking  charge  of  his  new  regiment,  Grant  was 
encamped  a  short  time  near  Springfield.  A  month  was 
spent  in  drill  and  discipline;  when  the  time  came  for  the 
mustering  into  the  national  service  of  those  who  were 
willing  to  enter,  the  regiment  went  in  as  a  body.  July  3d 
he  was  ordered  to  Quincy,  Mo.  While  here  he  was  ordered 
to  move  against  Colonel  Tom  Harris,  a  Confederate,  who 
was  encamped  on  a  creek  with  high  hills  on  both  sides. 
Grant  approached  the  place  with  much  uneasiness,  expect- 
ing to  find  Harris  and  his  men  drawn  up  ready  to  meet  him. 
Instead,  they  had  fled.  He  realized  then  that  Harris  had 
had  quite  as  much  fear  of  him  as  he  had  had  of  Harris. 
This  experience  was  a  valuable  lesson  to  him;  remembering 
it,  he  never  again  felt  trepidation  before  encountering  an 
enemy.] 

East  Qxiincy,  Mo., 
Jxily  13tH,  1861. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

I  HAVE  just  received  yours  and  Mary's  letters 
and  really  did  not  know  that  I  had  been  so 
negligent  as  not  to  have  written  to  you  before. 
I  did  write  from  Camp  Yates,  but  since  receiving 
yours  remember  that  I  did  not  get  to  finish  it  at  the 
time,  and  have  neglected  it  since.     The  fact  is  that 
since  I  took  command  of  this  regiment  I  have  had 
no  spare  time,  and  flatter  myself,  and  believe  I  am 

sustained  in  my  judgment  by  my  officers  and  men, 

40 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant       41 

that  I  have  done  as  much  for  the  improvement  and 
efficiency  of  this  regiment  as  was  ever  done  for  a 
command  in  the  same  length  of  time. — You  will 
see  that  I  am  in  Missouri.  Yesterday  I  went  out 
as  far  as  Palmyra  and  stationed  my  regiment  along 
the  railroad  for  the  protection  of  the  bridges,  trestle 
work,  etc.  The  day  before  I  sent  a  small  com- 
mand, all  I  could  spare,  to  relieve  Colonel  Smith 
who  was  surrounded  by  secessionists.  He  effected 
his  relief,  however,  before  they  got  there.  To- 
morrow I  start  for  Monroe,  where  I  shall  fall  in 
with  Colonel  Palmer  and  one  company  of  horse 
and  two  pieces  of  artillery.  One  regiment  and  a 
battalion  of  infantry  will  move  on  to  Mexico, 
North  Missouri  road,  and  all  of  us  together  will 
try  to  nab  the  notorious  Tom  Harris  with  his  1200 
secessionists.  His  men  are  mounted,  and  I  have 
but  little  faith  in  getting  many  of  them.  The 
notorious  Jim  Green  who  was  let  off  on  his  parole 
of  honor  but  a  few  days  ago,  has  gone  towards 
them  with  a  strong  company  well  armed.  If  he 
is  caught  it  will  prove  bad  work  for  him. 

You  no  doubt  saw  from  the  papers  that  I  started 
to  march  across  the  country  for  Quincy.  My  men 
behaved  admirably,  and  the  lesson  has  been  a  good 
one  for  them.  They  can  now  go  into  camp  after  a 
day's  march  with  as  much  promptness  as  veteran 


42         Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

troops;  they  can  strike  their  tents  and  be  on  the 
march  with  equal  celerity.  At  the  Illinois  River, 
I  received  a  dispatch  at  eleven  o'clock  at  night 
that  a  train  of  cars  would  arrive  at  half  past  eleven 
to  move  my  regiment.  All  the  men  were  of  course 
asleep,  but  I  had  the  drum  beaten,  and  in  forty 
minutes  every  tent  and  all  the  baggage  was  at  the 
water's  edge  ready  to  put  aboard  the  ferry  to  cross 
the  river. 

I  will  try  to  keep  you  posted  from  time  to  time, 
by  writing  either  to  you  or  to  Mary,  of  my  where- 
abouts and  what  I  am  doing.  I  hope  you  will  have 
only  a  good  account  of  me  and  the  command  under 
my  charge.  I  assure  you  my  heart  is  in  the  cause 
I  have  espoused,  and  however  I  may  have  disliked 
party  Republicanism  there  has  never  been  a  day 
that  I  would  not  have  taken  up  arms  for  a  Constitu- 
tional Administration. 

You  ask  if  I  should  not  like  to  go  in  the  regular 
army.  I  should  not.  I  want  to  bring  my  children 
up  to  useful  employment,  and  in  the  army  the 
chance  is  poor.  There  is  at  least  the  same  objec- 
tion that  you  find  where  slavery  exists.  Fred,  has 
been  with  me  until  yesterday;  I  sent  him  home  on 
a  boat. 

Yours  &c. 
U.  S.  GRANT. 


[SHORTLY  after  the  date  of  the  last  letter,  Grant  was 
ordered  to  Mexico,  Mo.  General  Pope  then  commanded  the 
district  between  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  Rivers  with 
headquarters  at  Mexico.  Grant  was  assigned  to  command 
a  sub-district  embracing  the  troops  of  the  immediate 
neighborhood.  In  regard  to  the  hospitality  which  Grant 
mentions  receiving  in  this  secessionist  district,  we  may  note 
that  the  regiments  before  his  accession  to  this  command 
had  visited  houses  without  invitation  and  had  helped  them- 
selves to  food  or  had  demanded  it.  Grant  at  once  published 
orders  forbidding  soldiers  to  go  into  private  houses  unless 
invited,  or  to  appropriate  private  property.] 

Mexico,  Mo., 
Aug.  3d,  1661. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

I  HAVE  written  to  you  once  from  this  place  and 
received  no  answer,  but  as  Orvil  writes  to  me 
that  you  express  great  anxiety  to  hear  from 
me  often,  I  will  try  to  find  time  to  drop  you  a  line 
twice  a  month,   and  oftener  when  anything  of 
special  interest  occurs. 

The  papers  keep  you  posted  as  to  army  move- 
ments, and  as  you  are  already  in  possession  of  my 
notions  on  secession  nothing  more  is  wanted  on 
that  point.  I  find  here  however  a  different  state 

43 


44  Letters  of 

of  feeling  from  what  I  expected  existed  in  any  part 
of  the  South.  The  majority  in  this  part  of  the 
State  are  secessionists,  as  we  would  term  them,  but 
deplore  the  present  state  of  affairs.  They  would 
make  almost  any  sacrifice  to  have  the  Union  re- 
stored, but  regard  it  as  dissolved,  and  nothing  is 
left  for  them  but  to  choose  between  two  evils. 
Many,  too,  seem  to  be  entirely  ignorant  of  the 
object  of  present  hostilities.  You  cannot  convince 
them  but  that  the  ultimate  object  is  to  extinguish 
slavery  by  force.  Then,  too,  they  feel  that  the 
Southern  Confederacy  will  never  consent  to  give 
up  their  State,  and  as  they,  the  South,  are  the 
strong  party,  it  is  prudent  to  favor  them  from  the 
start.  There  is  never  a  movement  of  troops  made, 
that  the  secession  journals  through  the  country  do 
not  give  a  startling  account  of  their  almost  anni- 
hilation at  the  hands  of  the  State  troops,  whilst  the 
facts  are,  there  are  no  engagements.  My  regi- 
ment has  been  reported  cut  to  pieces  once  that  I 
know  of,  and  I  don't  know  but  oftener,  whilst  a 
gun  has  not  been  fired  at  us.  These  reports  go 
uncontradicted  here  and  give  confirmation  to  the 
conviction  already  entertained  that  one  Southron 
is  equal  to  five  Northerners.  We  believe  they  are 
deluded,  and  know  that  if  they  are  not,  we  are. 
Since  I  have  been  in  command  of  this  military 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  45 

district,  (two  weeks),  I  have  received  the  greatest 
hospitality  and  attention  from  the  citizens  about 
here.  I  have  had  every  opportunity  of  conversing 
with  them  freely  and  learning  their  sentiments, 
and  although  I  have  confined  myself  strictly  to 
the  truth  as  to  what  has  been  the  result  of  the 
different  engagements,  the  relative  strength,  the 
objects  of  the  Administration,  and  the  North 
generally,  yet  I  think  they  don't  believe  a  word. 

I  see  from  the  papers  that  my  name  has  been 
sent  in  for  Brigadier  General.  This  is  certainly 
very  complimentary  to  me,  particularly  as  I  have 
never  asked  a  friend  to  intercede  in  my  behalf. 
My  only  acquaintance  with  men  of  influence  in  the 
State  was  whilst  on  duty  at  Springfield,  and  I  then 
saw  so  much  pulling  and  hauling  for  favors  that  I 
determined  never  to  ask  for  anything,  and  never 
have,  not  even  a  colonelcy.  I  wrote  a  letter  to 
Washington  tendering  my  services,  but  then 
declined  Governor  Yates'  and  Mr.  TrumbulTs 
endorsement. 

My  services  with  the  regiment  with  which  I  now 
am  have  been  highly  satisfactory  to  me.  I  took 
it  in  a  very  disorganized,  demoralized  and  insub- 
ordinate condition,  and  have  worked  it  up  to  a 
reputation  equal  to  the  best,  and,  I  believe,  with 
the  good  will  of  all  the  officers  and  all  the  men. 


46         Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

Hearing  that  I  was  likely  to  be  promoted,  the 
officers,  with  great  unanimity,  have  requested  to  be 
attached  to  my  command.  This  I  don't  want  you 
to  read  to  others  for  I  very  much  dislike  speaking 
of  myself. 

We  are  now  breaking  up  camp  here  gradually. 
In  a  few  days  the  last  of  us  will  be  on  our  way  for 
the  Missouri  River,  at  what  point  cannot  be  de- 
finitely determined,  wood  and  water  being  a  con- 
sideration, as  well  as  a  healthy,  fine  site  for  a  large 
encampment.  A  letter  addressed  to  me  at  Galena 
will  probably  find  me  there.  If  I  get  my  promo- 
tion I  shall  expect  to  go  there  for  a  few  days. 

Remember  me  to  all  at  home  and  write  to  me. 

Yours  truly, 
U.  S.  GRANT. 


[PRESIDENT  LINCOLN  asked  the  Illinois  delegation  in 
Congress  to  recommend  some  citizens  of  the  State  for  the 
position  of  brigadier-general.  They  tinanimously  recom- 
mended Grant  first  on  a  list  of  seven. 

Since  the  date  of  the  last  letter  he  has  been  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  He  was  then  ordered  to 
Ironton,  Mo.,  seventy  miles  south  of  St.  Louis. 

To  his  sister  Mary.] 

Ironton,  Mo., 
August  12tK,  1861. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

YOUR  letter  directed  to  me  at  Mexico,  Mis- 
souri came  to  hand  yesterday  at  this  place. 
A  glance  at  the  map  will  show  you  where  I 
am.  When  I  came  here  it  was  reported  that  this 
place  was  to  be  attacked  by  8000  secessionists, 
under  General  Hardee,  within  a  day  or  two.  Now 
Hardee's  force  seems  to  have  reduced,  and  his 
distance  from  here  to  have  increased.  Scouting 
parties  however  are  constantly  seen  within  a  few 
miles  of  our  pickets.  I  have  here  about  3000 
volunteers  nearly  all  infantry,  but  our  position 
being  strong,  and  our  cause  a  good  one,  it  would 

47 


48  Letters  of 

trouble  a  much  larger  force  of  the  enemy  to  dis- 
lodge us.  You  ask  my  views  about  the  continu- 
ance of  the  war,  and  so  forth.  Well  I  have  changed 
my  mind  so  much  that  I  don't  know  what  to  think. 
That  the  rebels  will  be  so  badly  whipped  by  April 
next  that  they  cannot  make  a  stand  anywhere, 
I  don't  doubt.  But  they  are  so  dogged  that  there 
is  no  telling  when  they  may  be  subdued.  Send 
Union  troops  among  them  and  respect  all  their 
rights,  pay  for  everything  you  get,  and  they  become 
desperate  and  reckless  because  their  state  sover- 
eignty is  invaded.  Troops  of  the  opposite  side 
march  through  and  take  everything  they  want, 
leaving  no  pay  but  scrip,  and  they  become 
desperate  secession  partisans  because  they  have 
nothing  more  to  lose.  Every  change  makes  them 
more  desperate.  I  should  like  to  be  sent  to 
Western  Virginia,  but  my  lot  seems  to  be  cast  in 
this  part  of  the  world. 

I  wanted  to  remain  in  St.  Louis  a  day  or  two  to 
get  some  books  to  read  that  might  help  me  in  my 
profession,  and  have  my  uniform  made.  Mine 
has  been  a  busy  life  from  the  beginning,  and  my 
new-made  friends  in  Illinois  seem  to  give  me  great 
credit.  I  hope  to  deserve  it,  and  shall  spare  no 
pains  on  my  part  to  do  so. 

It  is  precious  little  time  I  shall  have  for  writing 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  49 

letters,  but  I  have  subscribed  for  the  Daily  St. 
Louis  Democrat  to  be  sent  to  you,  through  which 
you  may  occasionally  hear  from  me. 

Write  to  me  often  even  though  your  letters  are 
not  answered.  As  I  told  father  in  my  last  I  will 
try  to  have  you  hear  from  me  twice  a  month  if  I 
have  to  write  you  after  midnight. 

I  told  Julia  she  might  go  to  Covington  and  board 
whilst  I  am  away  but  I  don't  know  but  that  she 
had  better  stay  where  she  is.  The  people  of  Galena 
have  always  shown  the  greatest  friendship  for  me 
and  I  would  prefer  keeping  my  home  there.  I 
would  like  very  much  though,  if  you  would  go  and 
stay  with  Julia. 

If  I  get  a  uniform  and  get  where  I  can  have  my 
daguerreotype  taken,  your  wish  in  that  respect  shall 
be  gratified. 

4  Your  Brother 

ULYS. 


[FROM  Ironton,  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  Jefferson  City, 
Mo.,  to  take  command  there.  There  were  much  confusion 
and  lack  of  discipline  here.  "  There  was  no  system  existing 
as  to  recruiting  and  the  city  was  filled  with  fugitives.  These, 
driven  by  guerilla  bands  to  take  refuge  with  the  national 
troops,  were  in  a  deplorable  condition. "  In  a  week  or  two 
order  was  restored.  He  was  then  recalled  to  St.  Louis,  to 
receive  important  instructions.] 

Jefferson  City,  Mo., 
August  27tK,  1861. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

rUR  letter  requesting  me  to  appoint  Mr. 
Foley  on  my  staff  was  only  received  last 
Friday  night,  of  course  too  late  to  give  Mr. 
Foley  the  appointment  even  if  I  could  do  so.  I 
remember  to  have  been  introduced  to  Mr.  Foley 
Sr.  several  years  ago,  and  if  the  son  is  anything 
like  the  impression  I  then  formed  of  the  father,  the 
appointment  would  be  one  that  I  could  well  con- 
gratulate myself  upon.  I  have  filled  all  the  places 
on  my  staff  and,  I  flatter  myself,  with  deserving 
men:  Mr.  J.  A.  Rawlins  of  Galena  is  to  be  my 
Adjutant  General,  Mr.  Lagow  of  the  regiment  I 

50 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant        51 

was  formerly  colonel  of,  and  Mr.  Hillyer  of  St. 
Louis,  aides.  They  are  all  able  men,  from  five  to 
ten  years  younger  than  myself,  without  military 
experience  but  very  capable  of  learning.  I  only 
have  one  of  them  with  me  yet,  and  having  nothing 
but  raw  troops,  and  but  little  assistance,  it  keeps 
me  busy  from  the  time  I  get  up  in  the  morning 
until  from  12  to  2  o'clock  at  night,  or  morning. 

I  subscribed  for  the  Daily  Democrat,  a  staunch 
Union  paper,  for  you  so  that  you  might  hear  from 
me  often. 

There  is  a  good  deal  of  alarm  felt  by  the  citizens 
of  an  early  attack  upon  this  place,  and  if  anything 
of  the  kind  should  take  place  we  are  ill  prepared. 
All  the  troops  are  very  raw,  and  about  one  half  of 
them  Missouri  Home  Guards  without  discipline. 
No  artillery  and  but  little  cavalry  here. 

I  do  not  anticipate  an  attack  here  myself,  cer- 
tainly not  until  we  have  attacked  the  enemy  first. 
A  defeat  might  induce  the  rebels  to  follow  up  their 
success  to  this  point,  but  that  we  expect  to  prevent. 
My  means  of  information  are  certainly  as  good  as 
those  of  any  one  else,  and  I  cannot  learn  that  there 
is  an  organized  body  of  men  North  of  the  Osage 
River,  or  any  such  body  moving.  There  are 
numerous  encampments  throughout  all  the  coun- 
ties bordering  on  the  Missouri  River,  but  the  object 


52        Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

seems  to  be  to  gather  supplies,  forces,  transporta- 
tion and  so  forth,  for  a  fall  and  winter  campaign. 

The  country  west  of  here  will  be  left  in  a  starving 
condition  for  next  winter.  Families  are  being 
driven  away  in  great  numbers  for  their  Union 
sentiments,  leaving  behind  farms,  crops,  stock  and 
all.  A  sad  state  of  affairs  must  exist  under  the 
most  favorable  circumstances  that  can  take  place. 
There  will  be  no  money  in  the  country,  and  the 
entire  crop  will  be  carried  off  together  with  all 
stock  of  any  value. 

I  am  interrupted  so  often  while  writing  that  my 
letters  must  necessarily  be  very  meagre  and  dis- 
connected. 

I  hope  you  will  let  Mary  go  to  Galena  when 
Mother  returns  home.  She  has  never  paid  us  a 
visit  and  I  would  like  to  have  her  make  a  long  one. 
I  think  it  doubtful  whether  I  will  go  home  at  all. 

ULYSSES. 


[THE  special  instructions  which  Grant  came  from  Jeffer- 
son City  to  receive,  assigned  him  to  the  command  of  south- 
eastern Missouri  and  southern  Illinois.  He  was  to  have 
temporary  headquarters  at  Cape  Girardeau  during  an 
expedition  ordered  for  the  capture  of  Colonel  Jeff 
Thompson,  who  was  disputing  with  them  the  possession  of 
southeastern  Missouri.  This  expedition  was  broken  up  on 
account  of  General  Prentiss  leaving  his  command  at  Jackson 
and  returning  to  St.  Louis,  offended  at  being  placed  under  a 
brigadier-general  whom  he  believed  to  be  his  junior.  Grant 
says  Prentiss'  action  was  a  great  mistake.  "  He  was  a  very 
brave  and  earnest  soldier, "  he  writes  long  after.  "  No  man 
in  the  service  was  more  sincere  in  his  devotion  to  the  cause 
for  which  we  were  battling,  none  more  ready  to  make  sacri- 
fices or  risk  life  in  it. "] 

Cape  Girardeau,  Mo., 

Ax»g\ist  31st,  1561. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

YOUR  letter  of  the  26th  is  just  received.     As 
to  the  relative  rank  of  officers  (brigadiers) 
you  are  right  but  in  all  the  rest  you  are 
laboring  under  an  erroneous  impression.     There 
has  been  no  move  made  affecting  me  which  has  not 
been  complimentary  rather  than  otherwise,  though 
calculated    to    keep    me    laboriously    employed. 

53 


54  Letters  of 

I  was  sent  to  Ironton  when  the  place  was  weak  and 
threatened  with  a  superior  force,  and  as  soon  as  it 
was  rendered  secure  I  was  ordered  to  Jefferson  City, 
another  point  threatened.  I  was  left  there  but  a 
week  when  orders  were  sent  ordering  me  to  this 
point,  putting  me  in  command  of  all  the  forces  in  S. 
E.  Missouri,  South  Illinois  and  everything  that  can 
operate  here.  All  I  fear  is  that  too  much  may  be 
expected  of  me.  My  duties  will  absorb  my  entire  at- 
tention, and  I  shall  try  not  to  disappoint  the  good 
people  of  Illinois,  who,  I  learn  from  every  quarter, 
express  an  enthusiasm  for  me  that  was  wholly  unex- 
pected.— General  Prentiss  is  not  a  particular  favorite 
as  you  suspect,  nor  is  there  a  prejudice  against  him. 

I  think  all  the  brigadiers  are  satisfied  with  the 
rank  assigned  them  by  the  President. 

The  brigadiers  are  not  all  up  north  as  you  sus- 
pect. I  know  of  but  one,  Hurlbut,  who  is  there. 
General  McClernand  is  at  Cairo,  Prentiss  at 
Ironton,  and  I  presume  Curtis  will  be  with  the 
command  under  me. 

General  Hunter  is  at  Chicago,  but  I  look  upon 
that  as  temporary.  I  have  not  heard  of  any  com- 
mand being  assigned  him  as  yet,  and  do  not  know 
that  he  has  sufficiently  recovered  from  wounds 
received  in  the  late  engagements  in  Virginia  to  take 
the  field.  Hunter  will  prove  himself  a  fine  officer. 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  55 

The  letters  spoken  of  by  you  have  not  all  been 
received.  One  sent  to  Galena  I  got  and  answered. 
My  promise  to  write  to  you  every  two  weeks  has 
been  complied  with,  and  however  busy  I  may  be 
I  shall  continue  to  write  if  it  is  but  a  line. 

I  am  now  probably  done  shifting  commands  so 
often,  this  being  the  fourth  in  as  many  weeks. 

Your  suspicions  as  to  my  being  neglected  are 
entirely  unfounded,  for  I  know  it  was  the  intention 
to  give  me  a  brigade  if  I  had  not  been  promoted. 
Application  would  have  been  made  to  have  me 
assigned  arbitrarily  as  senior  colonel  from  Illinois 
for  the  purpose. 

I  want  to  hear  from  you  or  Mary  often.  I  sent 
you  the  Daily  Democrat,  thinking  that  would  keep 
you  batter  posted  in  this  section  than  I  could,  and 
it  is  a  cheap  correspondent. 

I  wrote  to  you  that  I  should  like  to  have  Mary 
go  out  to  Galena  and  stay  some  time.  I  do  not 
want  Julia  to  leave  Galena,  being  anxious  to  retain 
my  residence  after  the  many  kindnesses  received 
from  the  people  there. 

I  only  arrived  at  this  place  last  night  and  cannot 
tell  you  much  about  things  here.  The  people 
however  are  generally  reported  to  be  secessionists. 

ULYS. 


[SEPTEMBER  4th,  Grant  had  removed  headquarters  from 
Cape  Girardeau  to  Cairo,  111.  Hearing  that  the  Confeder- 
ates were  about  to  seize  Paducah,  Ky.,  he  went  there 
immediately,  arriving  there  a  few  hours  before  the  enemy, 
who  returned  to  Columbus.  Before  leaving  Grant  ad- 
dressed a  short  proclamation  to  the  citizens  promising 
them  protection.  Troops  were  left  to  guard  the  city. 

To  his  sister  Mary.] 

Cairo, 
September  HtH,  1861. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

YOUR  letter  with  a  short  one  from  Father  was 
received  yesterday,  and  having  a  little 
time  I  answer  it. 

The  troops  tinder  me  and  the  rebel  forces  are 
getting  so  close  together  however  that  I  have  to 
watch  all  points.  Since  taking  command  I  have 
taken  possession  of  the  Kentucky  bank  opposite 
here,  fortified  it  and  placed  four  large  pieces  in 
position.  Have  occupied  Norfolk,  Missouri,  and 
taken  possession  of  Paducah.  My  troops  are  so 
close  to  the  enemy  as  to  occasionally  exchange 
shots  with  the  pickets.  To  day,  or  rather  last 

56 


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Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant        57 

night,  sixty  or  seventy  rebels  came  upon  seventeen 
of  our  men  and  were  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  two 
men  killed  on  their  side,  none  hurt  on  ours.  Yes- 
terday there  was  skirmishing  all  day.  We  had 
but  two  wounded  however,  whilst  the  loss  must 
have  been  considerable  on  the  other. 

What  future  operations  will  be,  of  course  I  don't 
know.  I  could  not  write  about  it  in  advance  if  I 
did.  The  rebel  force  numerically  is  much  stronger 
than  ours,  but  the  difference  is  more  than  made  up 
by  having  truth  and  justice  on  our  side,  whilst  on 
the  other  they  are  cheered  on  by  falsehood  and 
deception.  This  war  however  is  formidable  and 
I  regret  to  say  cannot  end  so  soon  as  I  anticipated 
at  first. 

Father  asks  for  a  position  for  Albert  Griffith. 
I  have  no  place  to  give  and  at  best  could  use  only 
my  influence.  I  receive  letters  from  all  over  the 
country  for  such  places,  but  do  not  answer  them. 
I  never  asked  for  my  present  position,  but  now  that 
I  have  it  I  intend  to  perform  the  duties  as  rigidly 
as  I  know  how  without  looking  out  for  places  for 
others.  I  should  be  very  glad  if  I  had  a  position 
within  my  own  gift  for  Al.  but  I  have  not. 

My  duties  are  very  laborious  and  have  been  from 
the  start.  It  is  a  rare  thing  that  I  get  to  bed  before 
two  or  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  am  usually 


58       Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

wakened  in  the  morning  before  getting  awake  in  a 
natural  way.  Now,  however,  my  staff  are  getting 
a  little  in  the  way  of  this  kind  of  business  and  can 
help  me. 

I  have  been  stopped  so  often  already  in  writing 
this  that  I  have  forgotten  what  I  was  going  to 
write  about. 

Are  you  talking  of  paying  Julia  a  visit?  I  wrote 
to  you  and  father  about  it  several  times  but  have 
failed  to  elicit  an  answer  on  that  point.  I  intended 
to  have  Julia,  Miss  and  Jess  come  down  here  to  pay 
me  a  visit  but  I  hardly  think  it  would  be  prudent 
at  this  time.  Hearing  artillery  within  a  few  miles 
it  might  embarrass  my  movements  to  have  them 
about.  I  am  afraid  they  would  make  poor 
soldiers. 

Write  to  me  again  soon. 

Good  night. 

ULYS. 


[SIMPSON:  the  brother  next  in  age  to  General  Grant. 
To  his  sister  Mary.] 

Cairo, 
September  25tH,  1861 

DEAR  SISTER: 

I  HAVE  just  received  your  last  letter,  also 
another  written  by  you  about  one  month 
ago,  which  'has  followed  me  around  until  at 
length  it  reached  this  place.  I  am  very  well,  but 
have  no  news  to  communicate. 

I  had  extended  my  lines  nearly  half  way  to 
Columbus  and  made  reconnoissances  frequently 
to  within  sight  of  the  rebel  camps,  but  my  force 
has  to  be  so  reduced  that  it  would  be  imprudent 
to  make  an  attack  now  until  I  am  reinforced. 

I  hope  some  day,  if  I  am  allowed  to  retain  this 
command,  to  give  a  good  account  of  ourselves. 
Simpson's  death,  though  looked  for  for  the  last 
two  years,  causes  me  a  great  deal  of  sadness.  The 
day  I  heard  of  it,  I  received  a  number  of  letters 
from  Galena.  In  two  or  three  of  them  his  arrival 
at  St.  Paul  was  noted,  and  it  was  stated  that  he  was 

59 


60        Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

no  better.  Our  family  has  been  peculiarly  blessed  up 
to  this  time.  But  few  families  of  the  same  number 
have  gone  so  many  years  without  the  loss  of  a 
single  member. 

I  expect  Father  here  as  soon  as  Orvil  returns  to 
Galena. 

BROTHER  ULYS. 


[GRANT  felt  sure  that  Columbus  could  easily  have  been 
taken  soon  after  the  occupation  of  Paducah,  and  had  asked 
more  than  once  to  be  allowed  to  move  against  it.  As  time 
went  on  it  was  so  strongly  fortified  that  it  would  have 
required  a  large  force  and  a  long  siege  to  capture  it.  Gen- 
eral Fremont  was  in  charge  of  the  Department  of  Missouri.] 

Cairo, 
October  25tH,  1861. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

I  HAVE  gone  longer  this  time  without  writing 
to  you  than  I   intended  and  have  no  good 
excuse  for  it.     I  have  received  two  letters,  at 
least,  from  you  and  father  since  my  last,  one  of 
which  wanted  special  answer.    As  I  have  not  that 
letter  before  me  I  may  fail  to  answer  some  points. 
As  to  my  not  taking  Columbus  there  are  several 
reasons  for  it  which  I  understand  perfectly  and 
could  make  plain  to  any  one  else,  but  do  not  feel 
disposed  to  commit  the  reasons  to  paper.    As  to 
the  needlessness  of  the  movements  of  troops  I  am 
a  better  judge  than  the  newspaper  reporters  who 
write  about  it.     My  whole  administration  of  af- 
fairs seems  to  have  given  entire  satisfaction  to 

6l 


62  Letters  of 

those  who  have  the  right  to  judge,  and  who  should 
have  the  ability  to  judge  correctly.  I  find  by  a 
little  absence  for  the  few  last  days  (under  orders) 
that  my  whole  course  has  received  marked  appro- 
bation from  citizens  and  soldiers,  so  much  so  that 
many  who  are  comparative  strangers  to  me  are 
already  claiming  for  me  promotion.  This  is  highly 
gratifying  but  I  do  not  think  any  promotions 
should  be  made  for  the  present.  Let  service  tell 
who  are  the  deserving  ones  and  give  them  the 
promotion.  Father  also  wrote  about  a  Mr.  Reed. 
He  is  now  here  and  will  probably  be  able  to  secure 
a  position.  I  do  not  want  to  be  importuned  for 
places.  I  have  none  to  give  and  want  to  be  placed 
under  no  obligation  to  any  one.  My  influence  no 
doubt  would  secure  places  with  those  under  me, 
but  I  become  directly  responsible  for  the  suitable- 
ness of  the  appointee,  and  then  there  is  no  telling 
what  moment  I  may  have  to  put  my  hand  upon 
the  very  person  who  has  conferred  the  favor,  or 
the  one  recommended  by  me.  I  want  always  to 
be  in  a  condition  to  do  my  duty  without  partiality, 
favor,  or  affection. — In  the  matter  of  making 
harness  I  know  that  a  very  large  amount  is  wanted. 
Maj.  Robert  Allen,  Chief  Quartermaster  for  the 
Western  Department,  stationed  in  St.  Louis,  has 
the  letting  of  a  great  deal.  Father  remembers  his 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  63 

father  well.  He  is  a  son  of  old  Irish  Jimmy,  as  he 
used  to  be  called  about  Georgetown  to  distinguish 
him  from  the  other  two  Jimmy  Aliens.  He  is  a 
friend  of  mine  also. — This  letter  has  proven  so  far 
more  one  to  Father  than  to  yourself,  but  I  direct  it 
to  you  that  you  may  reply.  I  write  in  great  haste 
having  been  engaged  all  the  evening  in  writing 
orders,  and  still  having  more  to  do. — I  send  you 
with  this  the  likeness  of  myself  and  staff.  N°  I 
you  will  have  no  difficulty  in  recognizing.  N°  2 
is  Capt.  J.  A.  Rawlins,  A.  A.  Gen.  N08  3  &  4  Capts. 
Lagow  &  Hillyer,  Aides-de-Camps,  N°  5  Dr.  Simons 
Medical  Director. 

A  good  looking  set  are  n't  they?  I  expect  Julia 
here  the  latter  part  of  next  week.  I  wish  you  could 
come  at  the  same  time  and  stay  a  week  or  two.  I 
think  it  would  pay  you  well.  Won't  you  try  to 
come?  If  it  were  at  all  necessary  I  would  pay  the 
expense  myself  to  have  you  come.  Give  my  love 
to  all  at  home.  I  think  I  will  send  you  several  more 
of  my  photographs,  one  for  Uncle  Samuel,  one  for 
Aunt  Margaret,  one  for  Aunt  Rachel  and  one  for 
Mrs.  Bailey. 

Your  Brother, 
ULYS. 


[THE  battle  of  Belmont  is  the  first  event  of  importance 
after  the  occupation  of  Paducah.  This  was  the  first  time 
the  men  and  officers  were  under  fire;  they  behaved  like 
veterans.  Here  they  gained  a  confidence  in  themselves 
that  they  did  not  lose  throughout  the  war.] 

Cairo, 
November  8tH,  1861. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

IT  is  late  at  night  and  I  want  to  get  a  letter  into 
the  mail  for  you  before  it  closes.     As  I  have 
just  finished  a  very  hasty  letter  to  Julia  that 
contains  about  what  I  would  write,  and  having 
something  else  to  do  myself,  I  will  have  my  clerk 
copy  it. 

Day  before  yesterday,  I  left  here  with  about 
3000  men  in  five  steamers,  convoyed  by  two 
gun  boats,  and  proceeded  down  the  river  to 
within  twelve  miles  of  Columbus.  The  next 
morning  the  boats  were  dropped  down  just  out 
of  range  of  the  enemy's  batteries  and  the  troops 
debarked. 

During  this  operation  our  gun  boats  exercised 

64 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant        65 

the  rebels  by  throwing  shells  into  their  camps  and 
batteries. 

When  all  ready  we  proceeded  about  one  mile  to- 
wards Belmont  opposite  Columbus;  then  I  formed 
the  troops  into  line,  and  ordered  two  companies 
from  each  regiment  to  deploy  as  skirmishers,  and 
push  on  through  the  woods  and  discover  the  posi- 
tion of  the  enemy.  They  had  gone  but  a  little 
way  when  they  were  fired  upon,  and  the  ball  may 
be  said  to  have  fairly  opened. 

The  whole  command  with  the  exception  of  a 
small  reserve,  was  then  deployed  in  like  manner 
with  the  first,  and  ordered  forward.  The  order 
was  obeyed  with  great  alacrity,  the  men  all  show- 
ing great  courage.  I  can  say  with  gratification 
that  every  Colonel  without  a  single  exception,  set 
an  example  to  his  command  that  inspired  a  confi- 
dence that  will  always  insure  victory  when  there 
is  the  slightest  possibility  of  gaining  one.  I  feel 
truly  proud  to  command  such  men.  From  here  we 
fought  our  way  from  tree  to  tree  through  the  woods 
to  Belmont,  about  two  and  a  half  miles,  the  enemy 
contesting  every  foot  of  ground.  Here  the  enemy 
had  strengthened  their  position  by  felling  the  trees 
for  two  or  three  hundred  yards  and  sharpening  the 
limbs,  making  a  sort  of  abattis.  Our  men  charged 
through  making  the  victory  complete,  giving  us 


66  Letters  of 

possession  of  their  camp  and  garrison  equipage, 
artillery  and  everything  else. 

We  got  a  great  many  prisoners.  The  majority 
however  succeeded  in  getting  aboard  their  steamer 
and  pushing  across  the  river. 

We  burned  everything  possible  and  started  back, 
having  accomplished  all  that  we  went  for  and  even 
more.  Belmont  is  entirely  covered  by  the  bat- 
teries from  Columbus  and  is  worth  nothing  as 
a  military  position.  It  cannot  be  held  without 
Columbus. 

The  object  of  the  expedition  was  to  prevent  the 
enemy  from  sending  a  force  into  Missouri  to  cut 
off  troops  I  had  sent  there  for  a  special  purpose, 
and  to  prevent  reinforcing  Price. 

Besides  being  well  fortified  at  Columbus  their 
numbers  far  exceed  ours,  and  it  would  have  been 
folly  to  have  attacked  them.  We  found  the  Con- 
federates well-armed  and  brave.  On  our  return, 
stragglers  that  had  been  left  in  our  rear,  now  front, 
fired  into  us,  and  more  recrossed  the  river  and  gave 
us  battle  for  fully  a  mile  and  afterwards  at  the 
boats  when  we  were  embarking.  There  was  no 
hasty  retreating  or  running  away.  Taking  into 
account  the  object  of  the  expedition  the  victory 
was  most  complete.  It  has  given  me  a  confidence 
in  the  officers  and  men  of  this  command,  that  will 


UlyssesS.  Grant  67 

enable  me  to  lead  them  in  any  future  engagement 
without  fear  of  the  result.  General  McClernand 
• — (who  by  the  way  acted  with  great  coolness 
throughout,  and  proved  that  he  is  a  soldier  as  well 
as  statesman) — and  myself  each  had  our  horses 
shot  under  us.  Most  of  the  field-officers  met  with 
the  same  loss,  besides  nearly  one  third  of  them 
being  killed  or  wounded  themselves.  As  nearly 
as  I  can  ascertain  our  loss  was  about  250  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing. 

I  write  in  great  haste  to  get  this  in  the  office 
tonight. 

U.  S.  GRANT. 


[Two  days  after  the  battle  of  Belmont,  November  9th, 
General  Halleck  supersedes  General  Fremont  in  command 
of  the  Department  of  Missouri.  General  Grant's  command 
is  now  changed  from  the  District  of  Southeastern  Missouri 
to  the  District  of  Cairo  and  that  of  the  mouths  of  the  Cum- 
berland and  the  Tennessee.  This  is  the  command  he  refers 
to  here  as  the  most  important  one  in  the  department.] 

Cairo,  Illinois, 
November  27tH,  1861. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

YOUR  letter  enclosed  with  a  shawl  to  Julia  is 
just  received. 

In  regard  to  your  stricture  about  my  not 
writing  I  think  that  you  have  no  cause  of  complaint. 
My  time  is  all  taken  up  with  public  duties. 

Your  statement  of  prices  at  which  you  proposed 
furnishing  harness  was  forwarded  to  Maj.  Allen 
as  soon  as  received  and  I  directed  Lagow,  who 
received  the  letter  enclosing  it,  to  inform  you  of 
the  fact.  He  did  so  at  once. 

I  cannot  take  an  active  part  in  securing  con- 
tracts. If  I  were  not  in  the  army  I  should  do  so, 
but  situated  as  I  am  it  is  necessary  both  to  my 

68 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant         69 

efficiency  for  the  public  good  and  my  own  reputa- 
tion that  I  should  keep  clear  of  Government 
contracts. 

I  do  not  write  you  about  plans,  or  the  necessity 
of  what  has  been  done  or  what  is  doing  because  I 
am  opposed  to  publicity  in  these  matters.  Then 
too  you  are  very  much  disposed  to  criticise  un- 
favorably from  information  received  through  the 
public  press,  a  portion  of  which  I  am  sorry  to  see 
can  look  at  nothing  favorably  that  does  not  look 
to  a  war  upon  slavery.  My  inclination  is  to  whip 
the  rebellion  into  submission,  preserving  all  con- 
stitutional rights.  If  it  cannot  be  whipped  in  any 
other  way  than  through  a  war  against  slavery,  let 
it  come  to  that  legitimately.  If  it  is  necessary 
that  slavery  should  fall  that  the  Republic  may 
continue  its  existence,  let  slavery  go.  But  that 
portion  of  the  press  that  advocates  the  beginning 
of  such  a  war  now,  are  as  great  enemies  to  their 
country  as  if  they  were  open  and  avowed  seces- 
sionists.1 

1  Grant's  conviction  that  the  essential  purpose  of  the  war  was  not 
the  abolition  of  slavery  as  an  end  in  itself,  but  the  preservation  of  the 
Union  at  all  costs  was  identical  with  that  of  Lincoln.  This  letter  can 
properly  be  compared  with  the  well-known  letter  written  by  Lincoln 
to  Greeley  on  the  third  of  August,  1862,  in  which  Lincoln  says:  "My 
paramount  object  in  this  struggle  is  to  save  the  Union,  and  it  is  not 
either  to  save  or  to  destroy  slavery."  Lincoln  understood  that  the 
task  accepted  by  him  as  President  as  the  leader  in  the  contest  for 
national  existence  made  the  maintenance  of  the  Union  his  chief,  if  not 


70  Lett 


ers  o 


There  is  a  desire  upon  the  part  of  people  who 
stay  securely  at  home  to  read  in  the  morning 
papers,  at  their  breakfast,  startling  reports  of 
battles  fought.  They  cannot  understand  why 
troops  are  kept  inactive  for  weeks  or  even  months. 
They  do  not  understand  that  men  have  to  be  dis- 
ciplined, arms  made,  transportation  and  provisions 
provided.  I  am  very  tired  of  the  course  pursued 
by  a  portion  of  the  Union  press. 

Julia  left  last  Saturday  for  St.  Louis  where  she 
will  probably  spend  a  couple  of  weeks  and  return 
here  should  I  still  remain.  It  costs  nothing  for 
her  to  go  there,  and  it  may  be  the  last  opportunity 
she  will  have  of  visiting  her  father.  From  here 
she  will  go  to  Covington,  and  spend  a  week  or  two 
before  going  back  to  Galena. 

It  was  my  bay  horse  (cost  me  $140)  that  was 
shot.  I  also  lost  the  little  pony,  my  fine  saddle 
and  bridle,  and  the  common  one.  What  I  lost 
cost  about  $250.  My  saddle  cloth  which  was 
about  half  the  cost  of  the  whole,  I  left  at  home. 

I  try  to  write  home  about  once  in  two  weeks  and 
think  I  keep  it  up  pretty  well.  I  wrote  to  you 

for  the  time  being  his  only  responsibility.  He  had,  however,  placed 
himself  on  record  in  many  utterances  to  the  effect  that  if  the  republic 
were  to  be  preserved,  slavery  must  be,  in  the  first  place,  restricted, 
and  finally  destroyed.  It  is  probable  that  in  this  matter  Grant  did 
not  go  so  far  as  Lincoln.  In  any  case,  in  common  with  the  President, 
he  devoted  himself  simply  to  the  duty  immediately  before  him. 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  7* 

directly  after  the  battle  of  Belmont,  and  Lagow 
and  Julia  have  each  written  since. 

Give  my  love  to  all  at  home.  I  am  very  glad  to 
get  letters  from  home  and  will  write  as  often  as  I 
can.  I  am  somewhat  troubled  lest  I  lose  my 
command  here,  though  I  believe  my  administra- 
tion has  given  general  satisfaction  not  only  to  those 
over  me  but  to  all  concerned.  This  is  the  most 
important  command  within  the  department  how- 
ever, and  will  probably  be  given  to  the  senior 
officer  next  to  General  Halleck  himself. 

There  are  not  so  many  brigadier  generals  in 
the  army  as  there  are  brigades,  and  as  to  divisions 
they  are  nearly  all  commanded  by  brigadiers. 

Yours, 

ULYSSES. 


[THE  battlefield  referred  to  is  Belmont.  According  to  the 
Memoirs,  the  loss  of  national  troops,  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing,  was  485 ;  that  of  the  Confederates,  642.  Number  of 
Union  troops  engaged  was  2500  men;  that  of  Confederates, 
7000.] 

Cairo,   Illinois, 
November  28tH,  1661. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

YOUR  letter  asking  if  Mr.  Leathers  can  be 
passed  South,  and  also  enclosing  two  ex- 
tracts from  papers  is  received. 
It  is  entirely  out  of  the  question  to  pass  persons 
South.     We  have  many   Union   Men  sacrificing 
their  lives  now  from  exposure  as  well  as  battle, 
in  a  cause  brought  about  by  secession,  and  it  is 
necessary  for  the  security  of  the  thousands  stilt 
exposed  that  all  communication  should  be  cut  off 
between  the  two  sections. 

As  to  that  article  in  the  Hawk  Eye  it  gives  me  no 
uneasiness  whatever.  The  Iowa  regiment  did  its 
duty  fully,  and  my  report  gives  it  full  credit.  All 
who  were  on  the  battlefield  know  where  General 

McClernand  and  myself  were,  and  there  is  no  need 

72 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant          73 

of  resort  to  the  public  press  for  our  vindication. 
The  other  extract  gives  our  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  almost  exactly  correct.  Our  missing 
however  is  only  three  or  four  over  one  hundred. 
Recent  information  received  through  deserters 
shows  that  the  rebel  loss  from  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing  reaches  about  2500.  One  thing  is  certain, 
— after  the  battle  about  one  third  of  Columbus  was 
used  for  hospitals  and  many  were  removed  to 
houses  in  the  country.  There  were  also  two  steam- 
boat loads  sent  to  Memphis  and  the  largest  hotel 
in  the  city  taken  as  a  hospital.  The  city  was  put 
in  mourning  and  all  business  suspended  for  a  day: 
and  the  citizens  thrown  into  the  greatest  consterna- 
tion lest  they  would  be  attacked. 

I  wrote  to  you  two  days  ago,  therefore  it  is  not 
necessary  to  write  a  long  letter. 

I  believe  I  told  you  that  Julia  had  gone  to  St. 
Louis.  She  will  pay  you  a  short  visit  before 
returning  to  Galena. 

ULYSSES. 


[GENERAL  D.  C.  BUELL  commanded  the  Department  of 
the  Ohio  with  headquarters  at  Louisville. 
To  his  sister  Mary.] 

Cairo, 
Dec.  18tH,  1661. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

I  HAVE  been  wanting  to  write  you  for  some 
time  and  am  not  so  indifferent  as  you  would 
make  out.  I  wish  you  could  be  here  for  a 
day  or  two  to  see  what  I  have  to  go  through  from 
breakfast  until  twelve  at  night,  seven  days  in  the 
week.  I  have  now  just  got  through  with  my  mail 
for  to-night,  and  as  it  is  not  yet  twelve  and  the 
mail  does  not  close  until  that  time,  I  will  devote  the 
remainder  of  the  time  in  penning  you  a  few  lines. 
I  have  no  war  news  to  communicate,  however. 

Julia  and  the  children  have  returned  from  St. 
Louis.  They  will  not  make  you  the  promised 
visit  whilst  I  remain  here. 

Captain  Foley  arrived  to-day  and  I  showed  him 
all  the  attention  I  could  but  I  regret  to  say  it  was 
not  much.  He  will  excuse  it  however. 

74 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant        75 

I  am  sorry  you  did  not  come  with  him.  I  believe 
I  should  have  allowed  the  children  to  go  back  with 
you. 

I  have  learned  through  private  sources  that  an  at- 
tack has  been  made  upon  Fort  Jackson,  Louisiana, 
and  that  the  place  has  been  taken.  That  is  to  say 
such  is  the  report  in  Columbus,  but  I  do  not  know 
whether  to  credit  the  report.  Something  has 
taken  place  to  call  off  many  of  their  troops.  They 
still  have  a  much  larger  force  than  I  have. 

Whilst  I  am  writing  several  Galena  gentlemen 
are  in  talking.  They  will  remain  until  the  office 
closes  so  you  must  excuse  a  disconnected  letter. 

I  do  not  now  see  that  the  probabilities  are  so 
strong  that  I  will  likely  be  removed.  A  full  dis- 
position seems  to  have  been  made  of  all  my  seniors. 

Father  seems  to  be  very  much  inclined  to  criti- 
cise all  our  generals.  It  may  have  been  a  little 
inexcusable  in  General  Buell  not  to  allow  troops  to 
stop  for  a  few  hours  when  near  their  homes.  But 
he  should  recollect  that  General  Buell  was  not  on 
the  spot  to  see  the  circumstances  fully,  and  he  does 
not  know  what  necessity  may  have  existed  to 
have  got  the  troops  through  by  a  certain  time. 

At  your  request  I  send  a  small  batch  from  my 
cranium.  I  doubt  whether  it  is  big  enough  for  the 
purpose  you  want  it. 


76        Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

If  you  will  come  out  here  you  might  spend  a  few 
weeks  pleasantly  and  I  hope  you  will  not  lose  such 
an  opportunity  as  has  just  occurred. 

I  will  close  this.     My  love  to  all  at  home. 

ULYS. 


[THE  great  expedition  into  Kentucky: — Early  in  January, 
Grant  had  been  directed  to  make  a  reconnoissance  in  favor 
of  Brigadier-General  Buell  who  was  confronting  the  Con- 
federate General  Buckner  at  Bowling  Green.  One  force  un- 
der General  Smith  went  up  the  west  bank  of  the  Tennessee 
to  threaten  Forts  Heiman  and  Henry.  McClernand  went 
into  west  Kentucky,  one  column  threatening  Columbus, 
and  another  the  Tennessee  River.  Grant  went  with  the 
latter.  The  object  of  the  expedition  was  attained;  troops 
were  not  sent  to  reinforce  Buckner.  Grant  was  now  eager 
to  move  against  the  forts  on  the  Tennessee.  This  is  his 
errand  to  St.  Louis,  to  ask  permission  of  General  Halleck 
to  move  against  them.  He  had  long  been  convinced  that 
the  true  line  of  operations  was  up  the  Tennessee  and  Cum- 
berland Rivers.  Once  these  rivers  were  held  by  the  Union 
troops,  the  Confederates  would  be  forced  to  evacuate 
Kentucky  altogether.  But  General  Halleck  opposed  the 
plan. 

To  his  sister  Mary.] 

Cairo, 
Jan.  23d,  1662. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

YOU  have  seen  through  the  papers  notice  of 
my  return  from  the  great  expedition  into 
Kentucky.     My  orders  were  such  and  the 
force  with  me  also  so  small  that  no  attack  was 

77 


78  Letters  of 

allowable.  I  made  good  use  of  the  time  however, 
making  a  splendid  reconnoissance  of  the  country 
over  which  an  army  may  have  to  move.  I  have 
now  a  larger  force  than  General  Scott  ever  com- 
manded prior  to  our  present  difficulties.  I  do 
hope  it  will  be  my  good  fortune  to  retain  so  import- 
ant a  command  for  at  least  one  battle.  I  believe 
there  is  no  portion  of  our  whole  army  better  pre- 
pared to  contest  a  battle  than  there  is  within  my 
district,  and  I  am  very  much  mistaken  if  I  have 
not  got  the  confidence  of  officers  and  men.  This  is 
all  important,  especially  so  with  new  troops.  I  go 
tonight  to  St.  Louis  to  see  General  Halleck;  will 
be  back  on  Sunday  morning.  I  expect  but  little 
quiet  from  this  on  and  if  you  receive  but  short, 
unsatisfactory  letters  hereafter  you  need  not  be 
surprised. 

Your  letter  asking  me  to  intercede  in  behalf 
of  Lieut.  Jones  was  received.  I  have  no  one  of 
equal  rank  now  to  offer  in  exchange,  unless  it 
should  be  some  one  of  Jeff  Thompson's  command, 
but  if  it  should  fall  in  my  power  to  effect  Lieuten- 
ant Jones'  release,  I  shall  be  most  happy  to  do  so. 
Write  to  me  giving  the  first  name,  where  he  now  is, 
when  taken  and  under  what  circumstances. 

I  think  you  may  look  for  Julia  and  the  children 
about  the  ist  of  February. 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  79 

As  I  said  before  the  three  oldest  will  be  left  to  go 
to  school.  Jess  is  too  small.  You  will  like  him 
the  best  of  any  of  the  children,  although  he  is  the 
worst.  I  expect  he  will  whip  his  Aunt  Mary  the 
first  day.  Buck,  though  never  really  sick,  is  very 
delicate.  He  is  the  best  child  I  ever  saw  and  is 
smart. 

Give  my  love  to  all  at  home.     I  must  close. 

BROTHER  ULYS. 


[AFTER  repeated  requests  Grant  secured  permission, 
February  ist,  to  undertake  the  campaign  up  the  Tennessee. 
Fort  Henry  was  captured  on  the  6th;  Fort  Donelson, 
eleven  miles  away,  fell  on  the  i6th.  Fort  Donelson  was  on 
high  ground,  one  hundred  feet  above  the  Cumberland  River. 
It  was  an  important  position  for  the  enemy.  Generals 
Floyd  and  Pillow,  first  and  second  in  command  at  Fort 
Donelson,  escaped  during  the  night  of  the  I5th.  General 
Buckner,  who  was  forced  to  surrender  the  fort,  said  to  Grant 
that  if  he,  Buckner,  had  been  in  command  Grant  would 
never  have  reached  Donelson  as  easily  as  he  did.  Grant 
answered,  "In  that  case  I  should  not  have  tried  in  the  way 
I  did;  I  relied  upon  Pillow  to  allow  me  to  come  up  within 
gunshot  of  any  entrenchments  he  was  given  to  hold." 
Pillow  had  been  in  the  Mexican  War  and  he  prided  himself 
upon  that  service.  Grant  speaks  of  his  own  service  in  the 
Mexican  War  as  being  invaluable  to  him  as  he  there  came  to 
know  all  the  men  who,  later  on,  held  conspicuous  positions 
in  both  the  Northern  and  Southern  armies;  he  learned  to 
know  their  strong  points  and  their  weaknesses,  and  to  infer 
how  they  would  act  under  given  conditions. 

To  his  sister  Mary.] 

Fort  Henry,  Tenn., 
Febr  9tH.  1862. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

I  TAKE  my  pen  in  hand  "away  down  in  Dixie" 
to  let  you  know  that  I  am  still  alive  and  well. 
What  the  next  few  days  may  bring  forth, 

however,  I  can't  tell  you.     I  intend  to  keep  the 

so 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant        8l 

ball  moving  as  lively  as  possible,  and  have  only 
been  detained  here  from  the  fact  that  the  Tennessee 
is  very  high  and  has  been  rising  ever  since  we  have 
been  here,  overflowing  the  back  land  and  making 
it  necessary  to  bridge  it  before  we  could  move. — 
Before  receiving  this  you  will  hear  by  telegraph  of 
Fort  Donelson  being  attacked. — Yesterday  I  went 
up  the  Tennessee  River  twenty  odd  miles,  and 
today  crossed  over  near  the  Cumberland  River  at 
Fort  Donelson. — Our  men  had  a  little  engagement 
with  the  enemy's  pickets,  killing  five  of  them, 
wounding  a  number,  and,  expressively  speaking, 
"gobbling  up"  some  twenty-four  more. 

If  I  had  your  last  letter  at  hand  I  would  answer 
it.  But  I  have  not  and  therefore  write  you  a  very 
hasty  and  random  letter,  simply  to  let  you  know 
that  I  believe  you  still  remember  me.  Whilst 
writing  I  am  carrying  on  a  conversation  with  my 
Staff  and  others. 

Julia  will  be  with  you  in  a  few  days  and  possibly 
I  may  accompany  her.  This  is  barely  possible, 
depending  upon  having  full  possession  of  the  line 
from  Fort  Henry  to  Fort  Donelson,  and  upon 
being  able  to  quit  for  a  few  days  without  retard- 
ing any  contemplated  movement.  This  would  not 
leave  me  free  more  than  one  day  however. 

You  have  no  conception  of  the  amount  of  labor 

6 


32        Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

I  have  to  perform.  An  army  of  men  all  helpless, 
looking  to  the  commanding  officer  for  every  supply. 
Your  plain  brother,  however,  has  as  yet  no  reason 
to  feel  himself  unequal  to  the  task,  and  fully  be- 
lieves that  he  will  carry  on  a  successful  campaign 
against  our  rebel  enemy.  I  do  not  speak  boastfully 
but  utter  a  presentiment.  The  scare  and  fright 
of  the  rebels  up  here  is  beyond  conception. 
Twenty  three  miles  above  here  some  were  drowned 
in  their  haste  to  retreat,  thinking  us  such  vandals 
that  neither  life  nor  property  would  be  respected. 
G.  J.  Pillow  commands  at  Fort  Donelson.  I  hope 
to  give  him  a  tug  before  you  receive  this. 

U.  S.  G. 


[AFTER  the  fall  of  Fort  Donelson  Grant  was  promoted  to 
the  grade  of  major-general.  Had  this  victory  been  im- 
mediately followed  up,  he  believed  that  the  entire  southwest 
would  have  offered  little  resistance ;  and  had  there  been  one 
general  who  would  have  taken  the  responsibility  and  been 
in  command  of  all  the  troops  west  of  the  Alleghanies,  the 
duration  of  the  war  would  have  been  far  briefer  than  it  was. 

Corinth  was  the  junction  of  the  two  most  important 
railroads  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  It  was  the  great  strate- 
gic position  in  the  West  between  the  Tennessee  and  Missis- 
sippi Rivers,  and  between  Nashville  and  Vicksburg.  If  the 
Union  troops  obtained  possession  of  Corinth  the  Confeder- 
ates would  have  no  railroad  for  transportation  of  armies  or 
supplies  until  that  running  east  from  Vicksburg  was  reached. 

The  enemy  was  in  force  at  Corinth,  March  lyth.  He 
attacked  Shiloh,  April  6th,  was  defeated  April  yth,  and 
evacuated  Corinth  May  3Oth. 

Up  to  this  time,  Grant  had  believed  that  the  rebellion 
would  suddenly  collapse  if  a  decisive  victory  could  be  gained. 
Donelson  and  Henry  were  such  victories,  but  now  that  the 
Confederates  had  collected  new  armies  and  assumed  the 
offensive,  he  gave  up  all  idea  of  saving  the  Union  except 
by  complete  conquest.  Hitherto,  he  had  protected  the 
property  of  both  Federal  and  Confederate.  Now  he  began 
a  new  policy;  he  consumed  everything  that  could  be  used 
to  support  armies,  regarding  supplies  within  reach  of  the 
Confederates  as  contraband  as  arms  or  ordnance  stores. 
This  policy,  he  says,  exercised  a  material  influence  in  hasten- 
ing the  end. 

83 


84  Letters  of 

July  nth,  Halleck  is  appointed  to  the  command  of  all 
the  armies,  with  headquarters  at  Washington.  Grant  now 
has  his  headquarters  at  Corinth  in  command  of  the  Dis- 
trict of  West  Tennessee.  He  is  practically  a  department 
commander.] 

CorintH,  Mississippi, 

August  3d,  1562. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

YOUR  letter  of  the  25th  of  July  is  just  re- 
ceived.    I  do  not  remember  receiving  the 
letters,  however,  of  which  you  speak.     One 
came  from  Mary  speaking  of  the  secessionist  Holt 
who  was  said  to  be  employed  in  the  Memphis 
post  office.     I  at  once  wrote  to  General  Sherman 
who  is  in  command  there  about  it  and  he  is  no 
doubt  turned  out  before  this. 

You  must  not  expect  me  to  write  in  my  own 
defence  nor  to  permit  it  from  any  one  about 
me.  I  know  that  the  feeling  of  the  troops 
under  my  command  is  favorable  to  me  and  so 
long  as  I  continue  to  do  my  duty  faithfully 
it  will  remain  so.  Your  uneasiness  about  the 
influences  surrounding  the  children  here  is  un- 
necessary. On  the  contrary  it  is  good.  They 
are  not  running  around  camp  among  all  sorts 
of  people,  but  we  are  keeping  house,  on  the 
property  of  a  truly  loyal  secessionist  who  has 
been  furnished  free  lodging  and  board  at  Alton, 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  85 

Illinois;  here  the  children  see  nothing  but  the 
greatest  propriety. 

They  will  not,  however,  remain  here  long.  Julia 
will  probably  pay  her  father  a  short  visit  and  then 
go  to  Galena  or  Covington  in  time  to  have  the 
children  commence  school  in  September. 

I  expect  General  Hitchcock  to  command  the 
Department  of  the  West.  Have  no  fears  of  Gen- 
eral Pope  or  any  one  junior  to  me  being  sent. 

I  do  not  expect  nor  want  the  support  of  the 
Cincinnati  press  on  my  side.  Their  course  has 
been  so  remarkable  from  the  beginning  that  should 
I  be  endorsed  by  them  I  should  fear  that  the  public 
would  mistrust  my  patriotism.  I  am  sure  that  I 
have  but  one  desire  in  this  war,  and  that  is  to  put 
down  the  rebellion.  I  have  no  hobby  of  my  own 
with  regard  to  the  negro,  either  to  effect  his  free- 
dom or  to  continue  his  bondage.  If  Congress  pass 
any  law  and  the  President  approves,  I  am  willing 
to  execute  it.  Laws  are  certainly  as  binding  on  the 
minority  as  the  majority.  I  do  not  believe  even 
in  the  discussion  of  the  propriety  of  laws  and  official 
orders  by  the  army.  One  enemy  at  a  time  is 
enough  and  when  he  is  subdued  it  will  be  time 
enough  to  settle  personal  differences. 

I  do  not  want  to  command  a  department  because 
I  believe  I  can  do  better  service  in  the  field.  I  do 


86        Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

not  expect  to  be  overslaughed  by  a  junior  and 
should  feel  exceedingly  mortified  should  such  a 
thing  occur,  but  would  keep  quiet  as  I  have  ever 
done  heretofore. 

I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  Captain  Foley 
about  this  same  Holt  said  to  be  in  the  Memphis 
post  office.  You  may  say  that  I  shall  refer  it  to 
General  Sherman  with  the  direction  to  expel  him 
if  it  is  not  already  done. 

Julia  and  the  children  are  well.  I  do  not  expect 
to  remain  here  long  but  when  I  will  go  I  can't  say 
now. 

U.  S.  GRANT. 


[IN  referring  to  this  period,  Grant  says  that  it  was  the  most 
anxious  time  of  the  war  when  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee 
was  guarding  the  territory  acquired  by  Corinth  and  Mem- 
phis, and  before  he  was  sufficiently  reinforced  to  take  the 
offensive. 

To  his  sister  Mary.] 

CorintH,  Mississippi, 
August  19tK,  1862. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

JULIA  and  the  children  left  here  on  Saturday  last 
for  St.  Louis  where  they  will  remain  on  a  visit 
until  about  the  last  of  the  month.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  they  must  be  some  place  where  the 
children  can  go  to  school. — Mrs.  Hillyer  has  a  nice 
house  in  the  city  and  is  all  alone  whilst  her  husband 
is  on  my  staff,  and  it  may  be  that  she  and  Julia 
will  keep  house  together.  If  they  do  she  would  be 
very  much  pleased  to  have  you  make  her  a  long 
visit.  Julia  says  that  she  is  satisfied  that  the  best 
place  for  the  children  is  in  Covington.  But  there 
are  so  many  of  them  that  she  sometimes  feels  as 
if  they  were  not  wanted.  Their  visit  down  here  in 
Dixie  was  very  pleasant  and  they  were  very  loth 

8? 


88  Letters  of 

to  leave.  Things  however  began  to  look  so  threat- 
ening that  I  thought  it  was  best  for  them  to  leave. 
I  am  now  in  a  situation  where  it  is  impossible  for 
me  to  do  more  than  to  protect  my  long  lines  of 
defence.  I  have  the  Mississippi  to  Memphis,  the 
railroad  from  Columbus  to  Corinth,  from  Jackson 
to  Bolivar,  from  Corinth  to  Decatur,  and  the 
Tennessee  and  Cumberland  rivers  to  keep  open. 
Guerillas  are  hovering  around  in  every  direction, 
getting  whipped  every  day  some  place  by  some  of 
my  command,  but  keeping  us  busy.  The  war  is 
evidently  growing  oppressive  to  the  Southern 
people.  Their  institution*  are  beginning  to  have 
ideas  of  their  own;  every  time  an  expedition  goes 
out  many  of  them  follow  in  the  wake  of  the  army 
and  come  into  camp.  I  am  using  them  as  team- 
sters, hospital  attendants,  company  cooks  and  so 
forth,  thus  saving  soldiers  to  carry  the  musket. 
I  don't  know  what  is  to  become  of  these  poor  people 
in  the  end,  but  it  weakens  the  enemy  to  take  them 
from  them.  If  the  new  levies  are  sent  in  soon  the 
rebels  will  have  a  good  time  getting  in  their  crops 
this  Fall. 

I  have  abandoned  all  hope  of  being  able  to  make 
a  visit  home  till  the  close  of  the  war.  A  few  weeks' 
recreation  would  be  very  grateful  however.  It  is 

1  Slaves. 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  $9 

one  constant  strain  now  and  has  been  for  a  year. 
If  I  do  get  through  I  think  I  will  take  a  few  months 
of  pure  and  undefiled  rest.  I  stand  it  well,  however, 
having  gained  some  fifteen  pounds  in  weight  since 
leaving  Cairo.  Give  my  love  to  all  at  home. 

ULYS. 


[DURING  the  two  months  just  past  there  has  been  much 
fighting  between  small  bodies  of  the  opposing  armies.] 

CorintH,  Mississippi, 
September  17tK,  1862 

DEAR  FATHER: 

A  LETTER  from  you  and  one  from  Mary  were 
received  some    time  ago,   which   I    com- 
menced to  answer  in  a  letter  addressed  to 
Mary,  but  being  frequently  interrupted  by  matters 
of  business  it  was  laid  aside  for  some  days,  and 
finally  torn  up.     I  now  have  all  my  time  taxed. 
Although  occupying  a  position  attracting  but  little 
attention  at  this  time  there  is  probably  no  garrison 
more  threatened  today  than  this. 

I  expect  to  hold  it  and  have  never  had  any  other 
feeling  either  here  or  elsewhere  but  that  of  success. 
I  would  write  you  many  particulars  but  you  are  so 
imprudent  that  I  dare  not  trust  you  with  them; 
and  while  on  this  subject  let  me  say  a  word.  I 
have  not  an  enemy  in  the  world  who  has  done  me  so 
much  injury  as  you  in  your  efforts  in  my  defence. 
I  require  no  defenders  and  for  my  sake  let  me  alone. 

90 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant       91 

I  have  heard  this  from  various  sources  and  per- 
sons who  have  returned  to  this  Army  and  did 
not  know  that  I  had  parents  living  near  Cin- 
cinnati have  said  that  they  found  the  best  feel- 
ing existing  towards  me  in  every  place  except 
there. 

You  are  constantly  denouncing  other  gen- 
eral officers  and  the  inference  with  people  natu- 
rally is  that  you  get  your  impressions  from 
me.  Do  nothing  to  correct  what  you  have  al- 
ready done  but  for  the  future  keep  quiet  on  this 
subject. 

Mary  wrote  to  me  about  an  appointment  for 
Mr.  Nixon.  I  have  nothing  in  the  world  to  do 
with  any  appointments,  no  power  to  make  and 
nothing  to  do  with  recommending  except  for  my 
own  staff.  That  is  now  already  full. 

If  I  can  do  anything  in  the  shape  of  lending  any 
influence  I  may  possess  in  Mr.  Nixon's  behalf  I 
will  be  most  happy  to  do  so  on  the  strength  of  what 
Mary  says  in  commendation,  and  should  be  most 
happy  if  it  could  so  be  that  our  lot  would  cast  us 
near  each  other. 

I  do  not  know  what  Julia  is  going  to  do.  I  want 
her  to  go  to  Detroit  and  board.  She  has  many 
pleasant  acquaintances  there  and  she  would  find 
good  schools  for  the  children. 


92       Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

I  have  no  time  for  writing  and  scarcely  any  for 
looking  over  the  telegraphic  columns  of  the  news- 
papers. 

My  love  to  all  at  home. 

ULYS. 


[!N  late  September,  Grant  went  from  Corinth  to  Jackson, 
Tennessee,  "to  superintend  the  movements  of  the  troops  to 
whatever  point  a  threatened  attack  upon  Bolivia  might  be 
made."  Bolivia  was  then  their  most  advanced  position 
on  the  Mississippi  Central  Railroad.  The  troops  from  Cor- 
inth were  brought  up  in  time  to  repel  the  threatened  move- 
ment without  a  battle. 

luka  was  a  town  twenty  miles  east  of  Corinth.  It  was 
entered  by  General  Price  of  the  Confederate  army  on  Sep- 
tember 1 3th.  On  the  I9th  he  was  defeated  by  Generals 
Rosecrans  and  Ord.  The  battle  of  Corinth  was  won 
October  4th;  Van  Dorn  was  the  leader  of  the  Confederate 
forces,  while  Rosecrans  commanded  the  Union  troops. 
Grant  was  now  assured  as  to  the  safety  of  the  territory  that 
he  had  won. 

To  his  sister  Mary.] 

JacKson,  Tenn., 
October  16tH.  1862. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

I  RECEIVED  your  letter  by  due  course  of  mail 
and  expected  before  this  to  have  answered 
one  of   your  questions   in   the   shape  of   an 
official  report ;  that  is  the  one  where  you  ask  me  the 
part  I  played  at  the  battle  of  luka.     When  the 
reports  of  subalterns  come  in  I  will  make  my  report 
which  no  doubt  will  be  published  and  will  be  a  full 

93 


94       Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

answer  to  your  question.  I  had  no  more  to  do  with 
troops  under  General  Ord  than  I  had  with  those 
under  Rosecrans,  but  gave  the  orders  to  both.  The 
plan  was  admirably  laid  for  catching  Price  and  his 
whole  army,  but  owing  to  the  nature  of  the  ground, 
direction  of  the  wind,  and  General  Rosecrans  having 
been  so  far  behind  where  he  was  expected  to  be  on  the 
morning  before  the  attack,  it  failed.  In  the  late 
battles  we  have  gained  such  a  moral  advantage  over 
them  however,  with  VanDorn  and  Lovell  added,  that 
I  do  not  know  but  it  may  have  all  been  for  the  best. 

I  have  written  to  Julia  to  come  down  here  to  spend 
a  short  time.  It  will  probably  be  but  a  short  time 
that  she  can  stay,  but  so  long  as  I  remain  here  this 
will  be  a  pleasant  place  for  her. — If  the  children  have 
not  already  been  sent  to  Covington  I  told  her  to 
bring  them  with  her.  In  the  last  letter  I  received 
she  said  she  was  about  sending  them  to  Covington. 

I  believe  you  have  now  got  it  all  quiet  on  the 
Ohio.  I  hope  it  will  soon  be  so  every  place  else. 
It  does  look  to  me  that  we  now  have  such  an  advan- 
tage over  the  rebels  that  there  should  be  but  little 
more  hard  fighting. 

Give  my  love  to  all  at  home.  Write  often  and 
without  expecting  either  very  prompt  or  very  long 
replies. 

ULYS. 


[OCTOBER  25th,  Grant  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
Department  of  the  Tennessee  and  headquarters  were  estab- 
lished at  Oxford,  Miss.  Reinforcements  continued  to  come 
from  the  North,  and  by  November  2d,  he  was  prepared  to 
take  the  initiative.  This,  he  said,  was  a  great  relief  after 
two  and  a  half  months  of  continued  defence  over  a  large 
district  where  every  citizen  was  an  enemy.  On  November 
3d,  Grant  left  Jackson  for  the  campaign  against  Vicksburg, 
which  did  not  end  until  July  4,  1863. 

Vicksburg  was  very  important  to  the  enemy  on  account 
of  its  position.  It  was  the  only  link  connecting  the  parts 
of  the  Confederacy  separated  by  the  Mississippi.  While 
held  by  the  enemy,  free  navigation  of  the  river  was  im- 
possible. During  the  winter  of  '62  to  '63  there  were  excep- 
tionally heavy  rains  and  continuous  high  water  on  the 
Mississippi. 

To  his  sister  Mary.] 

Oxford,  Mississippi, 

Dec.  15tK,  1862. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

X7ESTERDAY  I  received  a  letter  from  you 

and    the    children    and    one    from    Uncle 

Samuel.     To  day  I  learned  by   telegraph 

that  Father  is  at  Holly  Springs,  thirty  miles  north 

of  here.     Julia  is  there  and  as  I  expect  the  railroad 

to  be  completed  to  this  point  by  tomorrow  I  look 

95 


96  Letters  of 

for  them  down.  I  shall  only  remain  here  tomor- 
row, or  next  day  at  farthest;  so  that  Julia  will 
go  immediately  back  to  Holly  Springs.  It  is  a 
pleasant  place  and  she  may  as  well  stay  there  as 
elsewhere. 

We  are  now  having  wet  weather.  I  have  a  big 
army  in  front  of  me  as  well  as  bad  roads.  I  shall 
probably  give  a  good  account  of  myself  however 
notwithstanding  all  obstacles.  My  plans  are  all 
complete  for  weeks  to  come  and  I  hope  to  have 
them  all  work  out  just  as  planned. 

For  a  conscientious  person,  and  I  profess  to  be 
one,  this  is  a  most  slavish  life.  I  may  be  envied 
by  ambitious  persons,  but  I  in  turn  envy  the  person 
who  can  transact  his  daily  business  and  retire  to  a 
quiet  home  without  a  feeling  of  responsibility  for 
the  morrow.  Taking  my  whole  department,  there 
are  an  immense  number  of  lives  staked  upon  my 
judgment  and  acts.  I  am  extended  now  like  a 
peninsula  into  an  enemy's  country,  with  a  large 
army  depending  for  their  daily  bread  upon  keep- 
ing open  a  line  of  railroad  running  one  hundred 
and  ninety  miles  through  an  enemy's  country,  or, 
at  least,  through  territory  occupied  by  a  people 
terribly  embittered  and  hostile  to  us.  With  all 
this  I  suffer  the  mortification  of  seeing  myself  at- 
tacked right  and  left  by  people  at  home  professing 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  97 

patriotism  and  love  of  country,  who  never  heard 
the  whistle  of  a  hostile  bullet.  I  pity  them  and  a 
nation  dependent  upon  such  for  its  existence.  I 
am  thankful  however  that,  although  such  people 
make  a  great  noise,  the  masses  are  not  like  them. 

To  all  the  other  trials  that  I  have  to  contend 
against,  is  added  that  of  speculators  whose  patriot- 
ism is  measured  by  dollars  and  cents.  Country 
has  no  value  with  them  compared  with  money. 
To  elucidate  this  would  take  quires  of  paper.  So 
I  will  reserve  this  for  an  evening's  conversation, 
if  I  should  be  so  fortunate  as  to  again  get  home 
where  I  can  have  a  day  to  myself. 

Tell  the  children  to  learn  their  lessons,  mind 
their  Grandma  and  be  good  children.  I  should 
like  very  much  to  see  them.  To  me  they  are  all 
obedient  and  good.  I  may  be  partial  but  they 
seem  to  me  to  be  children  to  be  proud  of. 

Remember  me  to  all  at  home, 

7  Your  brother 

ULYS. 


[WALNUT  HILLS  is  a  little  north  of  Vicksburg.  The 
position  of  Vicksburg  on  high  bluffs  overlooking  the  river 
was  inaccessible.  After  five  months  of  exposure  and  labor 
Grant  at  last  attained  his  preliminary  object,  getting  his 
troops  to  the  rear  of  the  city.  During  this  time  he  would 
not  communicate  his  plans  to  the  public — this  movement 
to  a  point  below  Vicksburg  from  which  to  operate.  The 
North  was  much  discouraged  over  the  situation ;  voluntary 
enlistment  ceased.  It  was  important  to  gain  a  decisive 
victory.  In  January,  he  assumed  command  himself  of  the 
expedition.  The  siege  lasted  from  May  loth  to  July  4th. 
Johnston  was  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  Confederate 
forces  and  was  east  of  the  troops  besieging  Vicksburg. 
Pemberton  was  in  command  at  Vicksburg.] 

Walnut  Hills,  Miss., 
Jxinc  15tK,  1663. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

I  HAVE  received  several  letters  from  Mary  and 
yourself,  but  as  I  have  to  deal  with  nineteen- 
twentieths  of  those  received,  have  neglected 
to  answer  them. 

All  I  can  say  is  that  I  am  well.  I  have  the  enemy 
closely  hemmed  in  all  round.  My  position  is 
naturally  strong  and  fortified  against  an  attack 

from  outside.     I  have  been  so  strongly  reinforced 

98 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant        99 

that  Johnston  will  have  to  come  with  a  mighty  host 
to  drive  me  away. — I  do  not  look  upon  the  fall  of 
Vicksburg  as  in  the  least  doubtful.  If,  however,  I 
could  have  carried  the  place  on  the  22nd  of  last 
month,  I  could  by  this  time  have  made  a  campaign 
that  would  have  made  the  State  of  Mississippi 
almost  safe  for  a  solitary  horseman  to  ride  over. 
As  it  is,  the  enemy  have  a  large  army  in  it,  and  the 
season  has  so  far  advanced  that  water  will  be 
difficult  to  find  for  an  army  marching,  besides  the 
dust  and  heat  that  must  be  encountered.  The 
fall  of  Vicksburg  now  will  only  result  in  the  opening 
of  the  Mississippi  River  and  demoralization  of  the 
enemy.  I  intended  more  from  it.  I  did  my  best, 
however,  and  looking  back  can  see  no  blunder 
committed. 

ULYSSES. 


[AFTER  Vicksburg,  Grant  began  a  tour  of  observation 
among  the  important  parts  of  his  military  rule.  In  October, 
1863,  the  "Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi"  was 
created  and  Grant  given  the  command.  This  was  composed 
of  the  Departments  of  the  Ohio,  the  Cumberland,  and  the 
Tennessee.  Headquarters  were  established  at  Nashville, 
which  was  the  most  central  point  from  which  to  com- 
municate with  his  entire  military  division.  The  winter 
was  quiet,  preparing  for  the  campaign  against  Atlanta. 
He  says  in  this  letter,  "  I  am  not  a  candidate  for  any  office. " 
This  refers,  doubtless,  to  a  proposal  that  he  become  a 
candidate  for  the  Presidency.] 

NasHville,  Tenn., 
Feby.  20tH,  1864. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

I   HAVE  received  your  letter  and  those  accom- 
panying,   to    wit,  Mr.  Newton's   and    I.  N. 
Morris'.     I  may  write  to  Mr.  Newton  but  it 
will  be  different  from  what  he  expects.     I  am  not  a 
candidate  for  any  office.     All  I  want  is  to  be  left 
alone  to  fight  this  war  out;  fight  all  rebel  opposi- 
tion and  restore  a  happy  Union  in  the  shortest 
possible  time.    You  know,  or  ought  to  know,  that 
the   public  prints  are  not   the   proper  mediums 
through  which  to  let  a  personal  feeling  pass.     I 

100 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant       i°i 

know  that  I  feel  that  nothing  personal  to  myself 
could  ever  induce  me  to  accept  a  political  office. 

From  your  letter  you  seem  to  have  taken  an 
active  feeling,  to  say  the  least,  in  this  matter,  that 
I  would  like  to  talk  to  you  about.  I  could  write, 
but  do  not  want  to  do  so.  Why  not  come  down 
here  and  see  me? 

I  did  tell  Julia  to  make  a  visit  to  Cincinnati, 
Batavia,  Bethel  and  Georgetown. 

ULYSSES. 


[THE  rank  of  Lieutenant-General  had  been  conferred 
upon  Washington  in  1798  when  our  relations  with  France 
appeared  threatening.  In  1852,  it  had  been  conferred 
upon  General  Scott,  by  brevet,  as  a  recognition  of  his  great 
services  in  the  Mexican  War.  The  full  rank  was  revived 
February  26,  1864,  for  Grant,  who  received  his  commission 
March  3d.  After  Grant  this  rank  was  held  by  Sherman 
and  also  Sheridan,  by  promotion;  since  then  the  title  has 
not  been  revived.  By  this  rank  Grant  was  authorized  to 
command  all  the  armies  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Wash- 
burne,  who  introduced  the  bill  into  Congress  for  restora- 
tion of  the  grade  of  Lieutenant-General,  said  that  Grant 
wrote  to  him  that  he  did  not  ask  or  deserve  anything 
more  in  the  shape  of  honors  or  promotion;  that  he  only 
desired  to  hold  such  an  influence  over  those  under  his 
command  as  to  use  them  to  the  best  advantage  to  secure 
a  decisive  victory. 

Grant's  new  policy  was  now  to  secure  co-operative  move- 
ments of  all  the  armies  East  and  West — these  had  hereto- 
fore worked  independently — and  to  have  a  continuous  and 
concentrated  action  against  the  chief  armies  of  the  enemy. 
His  first  work  was  to  reorganize  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
which  in  April  began  the  campaign  against  Lee  and  Rich- 
mond. He  accompanied  the  army  in  person,  having  movable 
headquarters  in  the  field.  From  March  to  May  his  head- 
quarters were  at  Culpeper  Court-House,  Va.  It  was  shortly 
after  leaving  these  headquarters  that  he  wrote  from  the 
field,  May  n,  1864,  "I  propose  to  fight  it  out  on  this  line 
if  it  takes  all  summer. "] 

102 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant      103 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

Culpeper  C.  H.,  Va., 

Apl.  16tH,  1664. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

YOUR  letter  enclosing  one  from  young  Walker 
asking  for  duty  on  my  staff  during  his 
suspension  is  received.  It  is  the  third  let- 
ter from  him  on  the  same  subject.  Of  course  I 
cannot  gratify  him.  It  would  not  be  proper.  It 
would  be  changing  punishment  into  reward. 

Julia  will  start  West  in  a  few  days  and  will  stop 
at  Covington  on  her  way.  She  will  remain  at  the 
house  I  purchased  from  Judge  Dent  until  such 
time  as  she  can  join  me  more  permanently.  It  is 
her  particular  desire  to  have  Jennie  go  to  St.  Louis 
with  her  to  spend  the  summer.  I  hope  she  can 
and  will  go. 

It  has  rained  here  almost  every  day  since  my 
arrival.  It  is  still  raining.  Of  course  I  say  nothing 
of  when  the  army  moves  or  how  or  where.  I  am 


The  Editor  desires  to  make  correction  of  an  error  in  the 
reference  on  page  102  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-General.  The 
statement  should  of  course  read  that  the  rank  of  General  was 
conferred  upon  Washington  .  .  .  and  had  later  been  held  by 
Grant,  Sherman,  and  Sheridan.  The  rank  of  Lieutenant- 
. General  has  been  held  not  only  by  Washington,  Grant,  Sherman, 
and  Sheridan,  but  also  by  Schofield,  Miles,  Young,  Chaffee, 
Bates,  and  Mac  Arthur. 


[THE  rank  of  Lieutenant-General  had  been  conferred 
upon  Washington  in  1798  when  our  relations  with  France 
appeared  threatening.  In  1852,  it  had  been  conferred 
upon  General  Scott,  by  brevet,  as  a  recognition  of  his  great 
services  in  the  Mexican  War.  The  full  rank  was  revived 
February  26,  1864,  for  Grant,  who  received  his  commission 
March  3d.  After  Grant  this  rank  was  held  by  Sherman 
and  also  Sheridan,  by  promotion;  since  then  the  title  has 
not  been  revived.  By  this  rank  Grant  was  authorized  to 
command  all  the  armies  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Wash- 
burne,  who  introduced  the  bill  into  Congress  for  restora- 
tion of  the  grade  of  Lieutenant-General,  said  that  Grant 
wrote  to  him  that  he  did  not  ask  or  deserve  anything 
more  in  the  shape  of  honors  or  promotion;  that  he  only 
desired  to  hold  such  an  influence  over  those  under  his 
command  as  to  use  them  to  the  best  advantage  to  secure 
a  decisive  victory. 

Grant's  new  policy  was  now  to  secure  co-operative  move- 
ments of  all  the  armies  East  and  West — these  had  hereto- 
fore worked  independently — and  to  have  a  continuous  and 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant      103 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

Culpeper  C.  H.,  Va., 

Apl.  16tH,  1864. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

YOUR  letter  enclosing  one  from  young  Walker 
asking  for  duty  on  my  staff  during  his 
suspension  is  received.     It  is  the  third  let- 
ter from  him  on  the  same  subject.     Of  course  I 
cannot  gratify  him.     It  would  not  be  proper.     It 
would  be  changing  punishment  into  reward. 

Julia  will  start  West  in  a  few  days  and  will  stop 
at  Covington  on  her  way.  She  will  remain  at  the 
house  I  purchased  from  Judge  Dent  until  such 
time  as  she  can  join  me  more  permanently.  It  is 
her  particular  desire  to  have  Jennie  go  to  St.  Louis 
with  her  to  spend  the  summer.  I  hope  she  can 
and  will  go. 

It  has  rained  here  almost  every  day  since  my 
arrival.  It  is  still  raining.  Of  course  I  say  nothing 
of  when  the  army  moves  or  how  or  where.  I  am 
in  most  excellent  health  and  well  pleased  with 
appearances  here.  My  love  to  all  at  home. 

ULYSSES. 


[CiTY  POINT  was  an  important  strategic  point  on  the 
James  where  this  river  is  joined  by  the  Appomattox.  Here 
General  Grant  had  headquarters  until  the  end  of  the  cam- 
paign against  Lee.  The  campaign  against  Atlanta  under 
General  Sherman  lasted  from  May  6th  to  September  2d, 
1864,  when  the  city  was  evacuated  by  Hood.  The  loss  of 
Atlanta  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  South.] 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

City  Point.  Va.. 
Sept.  5tH,  1864. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

YOUR  last  letter  is  just  received.     Before  you 
receive  this  it  is  probable  Beverly  Simpson 
will  be  in  service  if  he  comes  in  at  all.      If 
he  does  enlist,  however,  after  you  receive  this  tell 
him  to  ask  to  be  assigned  to  a  regiment  now  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.     If  he  is  already  in 
service  have  him  write  to  me  and  I  will  assign  him 
to  some  duty  either  with  me  or  where  it  will  be 
equally  pleasant  for  him. 

Your  theory  about  delays,  either  with  Sherman 
or  myself,  was  not  correct.  Our  movements  were 

co-operative  but  after  starting  each  one  has  done 

104 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant      105 

all  that  he  felt  himself  able  to  do.  The  country 
has  been  deceived  about  the  size  of  our  armies  and 
also  as  to  the  number  of  the  enemy.  We  have  been 
contending  against  forces  nearly  equal  to  our  own, 
moreover  always  on  the  defensive  and  strongly  in- 
trenched.— Richmond  will  fall  as  Atlanta  has  done 
and  the  rebellion  will  be  suppressed  in  spite  of  rebel 
resistance  and  Northern  countenance  and  support. 
Julia  and  children  are  in  Philadelphia.  If  I  can 
get  a  house  there,  I  will  make  that  my  home. 
Julia  is  very  desirous  that  Jennie  should  make  her 
home  with  us  if  she  will,  and  if  she  will  not  do  that, 
at  least  spend  the  fall  and  winter  with  us. 

ULYSSES. 


[CLARA  was  the  oldest  sister. 

The  prophecy  as  to  the  end  of  the  war  proved  true. 
Petersburg  and  Richmond  were  both  captured  April  3d. 
Lee  surrendered  April  9th.  By  the  end  of  May  all  the 
rebel  armies  had  surrendered  and  the  Civil  War  was  over.] 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

City  Point,  Va. 
MarcH  19tH,  1865. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

I   RECEIVED  your  two  letters  announcing  the 
death  of  Clara.      Although  I  had  known  for 
some  time  that  she  was  in  a  decline,  yet  I 
was  not  expecting  to  hear  of  her  death  at  this  time. 
• — I  have  had  no  heart  to  write  earlier.     Your  last 
letter  made  me  feel  very  bad.     I  will  not  state  the 
reason  and  hope  I  may  be  wrong  in  my  judgment 
of  its  meaning. 

We  are  now  having  fine  weather  and  I  think  will 
be  able  to  wind  up  matters  about  Richmond  soon. 
I  am  anxious  to  have  Lee  hold  on  where  he  is  a 
short  time  longer  so  that  I  can  get  him  in  a  position 
where  he  must  lose  a  great  portion  of  his  army. 
The  rebellion  has  lost  its  vitality  and  if  I  am  not 

106 


GENERAL   ULYSSES    S.    GRANT 

From  a  photograph  taken  in  1865  by  Gutekunst,  Philadelphia 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant        107 

much  mistaken  there  will  be  no  rebel  army  of  any 
great  dimensions  in  a  few  weeks  hence.  Any  great 
catastrophe  to  any  one  of  our  armies  would  of 
course  revive  the  enemy  for  a  short  time.  But  I 
expect  no  such  thing  to  happen. 

I  do  not  know  what  I  can  do  either  for  Will. 
Griffith's  son  or  for  Belville  Simpson.  I  sent 
orders  last  fall  for  John  Simpson  to  come  to  these 
Head-Quarters  to  run  between  here  and  Washing- 
ton as  a  mail  messenger,  but  he  has  not  come.  I 
hope  this  service  to  end  now  soon. 

I  am  in  excellent  health  but  would  enjoy  a  lit- 
tle respite  from  duty  wonderfully.  I  hope  it  will 
come  soon. 

My  kindest  regards  to  all  at  home.  I  shall  ex- 
pect to  make  you  a  visit  the  coming  summer. 

Yours  truly, 
ULYSSES. 


[ON  the  7th  of  January,  1865,  a  number  of  the  principal 
citizens  of  Philadelphia  presented  General  Grant  with  a 
house.] 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

Washington,  D.  C., 
May  6tK,  1865. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

I  HAVE    ordered   a   sixty   days'    furlough    for 
Samuel  A.      He  can  be  discharged   at   any 
time  after   his  return   home.      It  will    take 
probably  three  weeks  for  my  directions  to  reach 
him  and  for  him  to  return. 

I  have  just  returned  from  Philadelphia  leaving 
Mr.  Cramer  there.  He  can  describe  our  new 
house  to  you  when  he  returns.  My  health  is 
good  but  I  find  so  much  to  do  that  I  can  scarcely 
keep  up  with  public  business,  let  alone  answer- 
ing all  the  private  letters  I  receive.  My  going 
to  Philadelphia  and  spending  half  my  time  there 
as  I  hope  to  do,  will  give  me  some  leisure.  I 

attend  to  public  business  there  by  telegraph  and 

1 08 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant      109 

avoid  numerous  calls  taking  up  much  time,  or 
hope  to  do  so. 

My  kind  regards  to  all  at  home.     I  hope  to  hear 
of  Mother's  entire  recovery  soon. 

ULYSSES. 


HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

Washington,  D.  C., 
Feby.  lOtH,  1868. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

rTTiHE  memorandums  you  left  with  me  relative 
X       to  bounty  due  two  needy  persons  in  Coving- 
ton  I  attended  to  soon  after  you  left  here. 
The  answer  of  the  Paymaster  General  was  that 
under  no  circumstances  could  he  take  up  claims  for 
bounty  out  of  turn;  therefore,  it  was  not  satis- 
factory to  you.     I  neglected  ,to  answer  at  the  time 
and  the  matter  escaped  my  memory  until  now. 

I  spoke  to  Secretary  McCulloch  about  giving 
Mrs.  Porter  a  clerkship  in  the  Treasury  and  he 
promised  me  he  would  do  it,  but  has  not  yet. 
Now,  I  fancy,  I  would  not  have  much  influence, 
and  if  I  had,  would  be  very  careful  about  using  it. 
The  family  are  well  and  send  much  love  to 
Mother,  Jennie  and  yourself. 

Yours  truly, 
U.  S.  GRANT. 


no 


[MARCH  4,  1869,  General  Grant  was  inaugurated  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States. 

Written  to  his  sister  Virginia,  Mrs.  A.  R.  Corbin.] 

Long  BrancH,  N.  J., 

Aug.  21st,  187O. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

BY  arrangement    of    a  year's  standing   Julia 
and  I  go  to  Newport  on  Tuesday  morning 
next,  to  be  gone  there,  and  at  West  Point,  one 
week. 

But  for  that  we  would  visit  you  and  Mother  this 
week.  I  shall  go  next  week  however  and  if  Julia 
is  not  too  much  fatigued,  or  too  lazy,  with  her 
travelling  will  take  her  along.  You  know  I  never 
give  any  one  credit  with  being  fatigued;  I  always 
attribute  the  feeling  to  another  cause. — I  hope  you 
are  all  well.  Give  my  kindest  regards  to  Mother 
and  Mr.  Corbin. 

Yours  truly, 
U.  S.  GRANT. 


[WRITTEN  to  his  sister  Mary,  Mrs.  M.  J.  Cramer.  Dr. 
Cramer  was  then  United  States  Minister  to  Denmark.] 

Washington,  D.  C., 
Oct.  26tH,  1871. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

I  HAVE  been  intending  to  write  you  for  some 
time ;  but  the  moment  I  get  into  my  office  in 
the  morning  it  is  overwhelmed  with  visitors, 
and  continues  so  throughout  the  day.     I  now  write 
of  a  rainy  evening,  after  having  read  the  New  York 
papers. — Jennie  is  with  us,  has  been  for  some  days. 
Mr.  Corbin  also  has  been  with  us  for  a  few  days 
but  left  to-day.     Jennie  will  remain  until  she  be- 
comes homesick  which  I  hope  will  not  be  soon. 

I  received  your  letter  in  which  you  gave  me  an 
extract  from  Mr.  Wolff's.  I  had  no  recollection  or 
knowledge  of  the  matter  whatever.  The  fact  is  I 
am  followed  wherever  I  go, — at  Long  Branch 
as  well  as  here.  I  sometimes  shake  off  callers, 
not  knowing  their  business,  whom  I  would  be 
delighted  to  see.  In  the  case  of  Mr.  Wolff,  how- 
ever, I  do  not  think  that  I  ever  knew  that  he 

112 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant        "3 

had  called.  For  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  had  ar- 
ranged to  go  fishing  at  sea.  To  do  so  it  was  neces- 
sary to  engage  fishermen,  with  boat,  beforehand. 
General  Porter  did  not  know  that  I  had  made 
the  arrangement,  and  probably  was  not  at  my 
house  when  I  returned  from  riding  the  evening 
after  Mr.  W.  called.  You  will  see  the  explanation. 
I  will  write  it  to  Mr.  Wolff. 

Fred,  after  graduating  at  West  Point  accepted  a 
position  as  assistant  civil  engineer,  and  gave  up  a 
good  portion  of  his  furlough  to  go  to  work  at  his 
new  profession.  He  has  been  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains  since  August  surveying,  in  pursuit  of 
his  new  profession,  but  with  leave  of  absence  as  an 
army  officer.  But  little  or  nothing  can  be  done  in 
the  winter  by  him,  and  I  have  therefore  got  him  a 
leave  of  absence  from  his  engineer  duties  to  accom- 
pany General  Sherman  abroad,  until  the  latter 
part  of  April.  I  expect  him  to  sail  about  the  middle 
of  next  month.  General  Sherman  goes  on  the 
flag-ship  of  the  European  Squadron  which  will 
land  at  some  of  the  Atlantic  ports,  then  proceed  to 
the  Mediterranean  touching  at  points  during  the 
early  winter  on  both  sides  of  the  sea,  and  in  the 
spring,  probably  in  time  to  attend  the  Carnival  in 
Rome,  will  leave  the  ship  and  work  across  the 
Continent,  in  time  to  be  home  at  the  time  I  have 


ii4        Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

indicated.  I  will  instruct  Fred,  to  run  up  to 
Copenhagen  from  a  convenient  point  and  spend 
a  few  days  with  you.  You  will  find  him  a  well- 
grown  and  much  improved  boy.  He  is  about  the 
height  brother  Simpson  was  and  well  developed 
physically.  You  will  be  pleased  with  him  I  know. 

During  the  Harvard  vacation,  next  year,  I  intend 
that  Buck  and  Jesse  shall  go  to  Europe  also.  It 
may  be  that  in  the  short  time  they  will  have  to 
remain  abroad  they  may  not  be  able  to  get  up  to 
see  you,  but  I  know  they  will  be  pleased  to  do  so, 
and  may  spare  time  for  that  purpose. 

I  do  not  know  but  that  I  owe  Mr.  Cramer  an 
apology  for  not  answering  his  letters.  All  have 
been  received  and  I  have  been  gratified  with  them. 
But  besides  being  a  little  negligent  I  am  so  con- 
stantly pressed  that  it  is  almost  impossible  for  me 
to  get  any  time  to  devote  to  private  correspondence. 

All  send  our  kindest  regards  to  Mr.  Cramer,  and 
love  to  you  and  the  children. 

Yours  affectionately, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 

P.S.  I  shall  always  be  delighted  to  receive  let- 
ters from  you  and  Mr.  Cramer  whether  I  answer 
them  or  not. 


EXECUTIVE  MANSION 

Washington,  D.  C., 

June  2nd,  1872. 

DEAR  FATHER: 

HEARING  from  home  frequently  as  I  do 
through  persons  coming  from  there  and 
through  occasional  letters,  I  scarcely  ever 
think  of  writing.  Hereafter,  however,  I  will  try 
to  write  oftener  or  have  Jesse  write.  The  children 
might  all  write  to  you  for  that  matter.  We  hear 
occasionally  from  Fred,  directly  and  very  often 
through  the  papers.  He  has  enjoyed  his  European 
trip  very  much  and  I  think  will  be  much  improved 
by  it.  Nellie  writes  very  often ;  she  is  a  very  much 
better  writer  than  either  of  the  boys.  Her  composi- 
tion is  easy  and  fluent,  and  she  writes  very  correctly. 
She  seems  to  have  made  a  very  good  impression 
where  she  has  been. — Buck  sails  for  Europe  on  the 
6th  of  July.  He  will  travel  but  little  however. 
He  expects  to  study  his  third  year  Harvard  course 
in  some  quiet  German  village,  and  return  in  June 
next  in  time  for  his  examinations.  In  this  way  he 


n6        Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

expects  to  graduate  at  the  same  time  he  would  if  he 
did  not  go  abroad.  The  object  is  to  acquire  a 
speaking  knowledge  of  both  the  German  and 
French  languages,  in  both  of  which  he  is  now  quite 
a  good  scholar. 

I  received  a  letter  from  Mary  a  short  time  since. 
She  said  that  she  would  leave  for  home  about  the 
first  of  June.  You  may  expect  her  home  by  the 
twentieth  no  doubt. 

Julia  and  Jesse  are  well  and  send  much  love  to 
you  and  Mother. 

Sincerely  yours, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 

/ 
JESSE  R.  GRANT,  ESQ., 

Covington,  Ky. 


[To  Mrs.  A.  R.  Corbin.] 

Long  Branch,  N.  J., 

June  13tH,  1872. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

WE  got  here  Tuesday  evening  and  are  now 
pretty  well  settled.  Can  we  not  expect 
Mr.  Corbin,  you,  Mary  and  two  children 
down  to  spend  a  few  days  with  us  as  soon  as  the 
latter  arrives?  If  Mary  does  not  come  now,  it  is 
not  probable  that  she  will  get  East  again  this 
summer.  You  can  see  just  as  much  of  her  here  as 
you  could  at  your  own  house;  so  I  think  the  best 
arrangement  will  be  for  you  to  come  immediately 
here  and  all  spend  the  time  together  at  the  Branch. 
I  will  go  up  to  meet  you  in  the  harbor  if  informed  in 

time. 

Yours  truly, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 

P.S.  I  learned  from  a  letter  from  St.  Petersburg 
that  Fred,  hurried  off  to  Copenhagen  to  meet  Mary 
before  she  left,  which  was  to  be  the  ist  day  of 
June.  I  infer  from  this  that  she  should  be  here 

in  two  or  three  days  from  now. 

117 


[To  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  A.  R.  Corbin.     "Nellie"  is 
Mrs.  Sartoris.     Mr.  Borie  is  Secretary  of  the  Navy.] 

EXECUTIVE   MANSION 

"Washington,  D.  C., 

Oct.  16tH,  1872. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CORBIN: 

YOUR  letter  of  the  I4th  is  just  received.  Mrs. 
Grant  and  I  go  on  to  New  York  City  on 
Monday  night  to  meet  Nellie  and  bring  her 
home.  It  is  not  probable  that  the  vessel  in  which 
she  sailed  will  reach  New  York  City  before  Tuesday 
morning,  so  that  we  will  be  in  the  city  from  Mon- 
day morning  until  Tuesday  night.  If  Jennie  were 
at  home  I  do  not  know  but  we  might  go  as  far  as 
Elizabeth  on  Saturday  and  remain  over  Sunday. — 
I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  offer  of  your  kind 
offices.  Probably  it  will  be  pleasant  for  you  to 
meet  us  on  Tuesday  on  the  vessel  that  brings  Mr. 
Borie  and  party  home.  What  arrangement  will 
be  made  I  do  not  know;  but  in  all  probability  a 
revenue  cutter  will  be  put  at  my  service  and  I  will 

118 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant        "9 

be  allowed  to  meet  the  vessel  in  the  harbor  below 
the  city.     In  that  case  I  would  be  glad  of  your 
company  down  the  bay. 
My  family  are  all  very  well. 

Yours  truly, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 


[To  his  sister,  Mrs.  Cramer.   March  4,  1873,  Grant  began 
his  second  term  as  President.] 


BrancH,  N.  J., 
Sept.  9tH,  1873. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

ON  Monday  next  I  start  to  take  Jesse  to  school, 
and  then  for  Pittsburgh   to  attend    the 
meeting  of  the  "  Society  of  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland.  "     I  will  be  back  about  the  last 
of  the  week.     I  would  like  you  to  make  your  visit 
while  I  am  at  home,  and  want  mother  to  come 
with  you,  as  well  as  Jennie  and  Mr.  Corbin.     If 
you  have  made  no  arrangements  to  start  earlier 
suppose  you  come  say  on  Saturday  week  and  bring 
the  children  with  you. 

I  am  just  in  receipt  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Corbin, 
and  one  from  Mr.  Clark,  asking  me  to  attend  the 
Fair  next  week.  Please  say  to  Mr.  Corbin,  and 
Mr.  Clark  too  if  you  see  him,  that  I  had  an  invi- 
tation from  Senator  Frelinghuysen  to  stay  with 
him  during  the  Fair  which  I  had  to  decline  because 

I  shall  be  absent  during  the  week.     The  Army  of 

1  20 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

the  Cumberland  was  the  one  commanded  by 
General  Thomas.  They  have  their  reunions  an- 
nually, to  all  of  which  I  have  been  invited,  but 
it  has  so  happened  heretofore  that  I  could  not 
attend  one  of  them.  As  I  have  attended  one  or 
other  of  the  Army  Society  meetings  almost  every 
year,  I  feel  it  a  duty  to  attend  this  one  now  and 
have  informed  them  that  I  will  be  present. 

My  kindest  regards  to  all. 

Yours  truly, 
U.  S.  GRANT. 

MRS.  MARY  G.  CRAMER. 


[To  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  A.  R.  Corbin,  of  Elizabeth, 
N.  J.     Mr.  Dent  was  Mrs.  Grant's  father.] 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION 

Washington,  D.  C., 
Dec.  16tH,  1873. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CORBIN: 

AS  I  telegraphed  you  Mr.  Dent  breathed  his 
last  at  11.45  last  night.  There  was 
nothing  during  the  day  or  evening  to 
indicate  his  near  approach  to  death  more  than 
there  has  been  almost  every  day  for  the  last  five 
months.  Indeed,  and  I  believe  for  the  first  time 
since  our  return  from  Long  Branch,  he  had  himself 
partially  dressed  yesterday,  ate  a  hearty  breakfast, 
sitting  up,  and  smoked  his  cigar  with  apparent 
relish.  In  the  evening  Mrs.  Grant,  Fred,  and  I 
were  out  until  after  n  P.M.,  perfectly  unconscious 
that  his  end  was  near.  On  our  return  we  found 
his  attending  physician  with  him,  and  he,  Mr. 
Dent,  apparently  in  a  quiet  slumber.  Not  many 
minutes  after  he  ceased  to  breathe  and  life  was 
gone  without  a  struggle  or  movement  of  a  limb 

122 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant      123 

or  muscle.  It  was  a  clear  case  of  life  worn  out 
purely  by  time, — no  disease,  care  or  anxiety  has- 
tening dissolution. 

On  Thursday  there  will  be  funeral  service  at 
the  house,  by  Dr.  Tiffany,  and  at  1 1 .30  his  remains 
will  leave  the  B.  &  P.  Depot  for  St.  Louis.  The 
funeral  there  will  be  on  Saturday  next;  and  Mrs. 
Dent's  remains  will  be  brought  up  from  the  farm 
at  the  same  time,  and  the  two  interred  in  Mr. 
Dent's  lot  in  Bellefontaine.  Dr.  Sharp,  Mr.  Casey, 
Gen.  Dent,  Fred.  Grant  and  myself,  will  accompany 
them. 

During  all  the  time  Mr.  Dent  has  been  confined 
to  his  room,  and  at  all  times  before  when  he  was 
in  the  least  unwell  since  we  have  been  in  the 
White  House — Dr.  Bazil  Norris  of  the  army  has 
been  most  attentive.  I  feel  disposed  to  recognize 
my  appreciation  of  his  attention  in  some  way,  and 
have  thought  if  I  could  get  about  such  a  watch  as 
was  made  for  me  at  the  establishment  near  Jersey 
City  I  would  get  that.  If  it  is  not  asking  too  much 
of  you  to  enquire  I  would  like  you  to  do  so.  If  it 
can  be  got  before  Christmas  you  might  order  it  at 
once,  with  the  Doctor's  monogram — -from  his 
friend  U.  S.  Grant — .  If  it  cannot  be  had  by  that 
time  I  would  not  order  it  until  further  directed. 

My  children  will  all  be  at  home  by  Thursday, 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

unless  it  may  be  Bucky.  The  family  are  well,  or 
as  well  as  could  be  expected. — We  would  be  very 
glad  to  see  you  here  on  Thursday,  as  an  old  friend 
of  Mr.  Dent,  but  do  not  ask  that  you  should  un- 
dergo the  fatigue  of  the  trip  unless  you  feel  well 
enough  to  do  so. 

Very  truly  yours, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 


EXECUTIVE  MANSION 

Washington, 
Nov.  14tK  *76. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CORBIN: 

JENNIE'S  and  your  letter  is  just  received.     I 
shall  not  be  in  New  York,  nor  away  from 
Washington,    until    after    the    meeting    of 
Congress.     But  I  will  gladly  give  you  the  hour  or 
two  you  speak  of  if  you  come  to  Washington.     If 
you  and  Jennie  could  come  this  week  we  could 
make  a  spare  room  without  inconvenience.     Mrs. 
Smith — of  Washington,  Pa.,  with  her  two  children 
— are  with  us,  but  they  can  be  put  in  the  room 
with  their  mother. 

The  alarm  about  the  removal  of  Holden  as 
Collector  of  Internal  Revenue  for  the  Covington 
district  is  premature.  There  was  a  raid  made 
upon  him  by  a  person  in  whom  I  take  no  stock, 
and  a  statement  made  in  regard  to  him  which  I  said 
— if  proved  true* — would  mean  that  he  must  go  out. 
But  I  think  that  rumor  was  entirely  dispelled. 
My  Message  is  not  "blocked  out, "  nor  scarcely 

125 


i26      Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

thought  of.  So  many  other  exciting  matters 
preoccupy  my  time  and  thoughts  that  I  do  not 
bother  myself  about  the  other.  I  shall  trust  to 
the  inspiration  of  the  moment  for  what  I  shall  say. 
Will  be  brief,  but  to  the  point  if  I  can. 

Yours  truly, 
U.  S.  GRANT. 


[GRANT'S  second  term  of  office  expired  March,  1877.] 
EXECUTIVE  MANSION 


Dec.  13tH.  '76. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CORBIN: 

I  WISH  you  and  Jennie  would  come  down  and 
make  us  a  visit.  We  now  have  room,  and 
will  have  until  Fred,  returns  with  his  family, 
which  will  probably  be  a  few  days  before  Christmas. 
—  Sometime  before  my  term  of  office  expires  I 
want  Mother  to  make  me  a  visit.  If  she  would 
like  to  come  down  during  the  holidays  we  could 
make  room  by  sending  one  of  the  boys  out  o' 
nights.  The  children  will  all  be  at  home  during 
that  week;  possibly  the  last  time  we  will  have  them 
all  at  home  together.  At  all  events  it  may  be  the 
last  opportunity  mother  may  have  of  seeing  them 
together. 

I  received  your  kind  letter  of  the  I  ith  this  A.M. 
This  year,  owing  to  election  excitement,  depart- 

ment reports  only  came  in  a  few  days  before  the 

127 


128      Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

meeting  of  Congress.  When  they  did  come  the 
situation  in  South  Carolina  was  so  critical  that 
dispatches  were  coming  to  me,  or  to  members  of 
my  cabinet,  and  brought  from  them  to  me  in  such 
rapid  succession  that  I  do  not  think  I  had  one 
single  half  hour  without  interruption  all  the  time 
I  was  preparing  my  message.  I  am  sure  I  did  not 
have  four  hours  in  its  preparation  all  told,  exclu- 
sive of  the  time  consumed  in  reading  the  depart- 
mental reports.  I  left  out  necessarily  topics  I 
should  liked  to  have  talked  about,  but  would  not 
mention  without  being  sure  I  was  right. 
My  love  to  all. 

Yours  truly, 
U.  S.  GRANT. 


ULYSSES    S.    GRANT 

From  a  photograph  taken  during  his  second  term  as  President 


[GENERAL  and  Mrs.  Grant  spent  the  next  two  years  in  a 
tour  around  the  world.] 

Chicago,  111., 
April  12tH,  1877. 

DEAR  MR.  CORBIN: 

r -MORROW  evening  Mrs.  Grant  and  I 
start  for  Washington,  Pa.,  where  we  will 
spend  a  few  days,  then  go  to  Harrisburgh, 
Washington,  D.  C.,  and  toward  the  last  of  the 
month  get  around  to  Elizabeth  to  spend  a  few  days 
with  you  before  taking  our  departure  for  Europe. 
We  have  not  entirely  decided  whether  to  take  the 
American  line  from  Philadelphia  or  the  Inman  line 
from  New  York  City.  Both  have  tendered 
pressing  invitations,  and  both  present  good  accom- 
modations. If  we  take  the  former  we  will  sail 
on  the  9th  or  i6th  of  May,  if  the  latter  on  the  I9th. 
We  had  a  very  pleasant  trip  West  but  a  little  hur- 
ried. There  is  much  complaint  of  dull  times  but 
really  appearances  do  not  justify  it.  Kindest  re- 
gards of  Mrs.  Grant  and  myself  to  Mother  and  Jennie. 

Yours  truly, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 

9  129 


BRISTOL  HOTEL, 
BURLINGTON  GARDENS, 
LONDON,  W. 

Aug.  26,  '77. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CORBIN: 

\\[  7E  arrived  here  from  the  Continent  yester- 
VV  day,  and  found  awaiting  us  your  very 
acceptable  letter.  On  Wednesday  we 
start  again  to  visit  Scotland  where  I  have  had 
many  invitations  from  both  corporations  and  from 
private  gentlemen .  We  will  take  about  three  weeks 
for  this  trip,  after  which  we  will  visit  some  portions 
of  England  not  yet  visited,  and  Nellie  at  her  home, 
and  get  to  Paris  the  latter  part  of  October.  The 
papers  no  doubt  will  keep  you  advised  of  our  move- 
ments in  advance  of  anything  I  could  write  to  go  by 
mail.  Our  visit  has  been  most  agreeable  in  every 
particular.  People  everywhere,  both  travellers 
and  residents,  did  all  they  could  to  make  every- 
thing pleasant  for  us.  How  long  we  will  remain 
abroad  is  not  yet  determined,  but  I  think  for  two 
years  yet  if  the  means  to  do  so  hold  out. 

132 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant     133 

During  my  visit  to  the  Continent  I  saw  but  few 
American  papers  so  that  I  am  now  somewhat 
behind  in  information  as  to  what  has  been  going 
on  in  the  United  States.  All  the  foreign  papers 
however  have  been  full  of  the  great  strike  which 
has  taken  place  on  our  roads.  It  must  have  been 
serious  but  probably  not  so  serious  as  it  seemed  at  a 
distance.  My  judgment  is  that  it  should  have 
been  put  down  with  a  strong  hand  and  so  summar- 
ily as  to  prevent  a  like  occurrence  for  a  generation. 

We  have  made  a  short  visit  to  Nellie  at  her 
home.  She  lives  in  a  delightful  part  of  the  country. 

All  join  me  in  love  to  Mother  and  Jennie  as  well 
as  yourself.  I  will  be  glad  to  hear  from  you  as 
often  as  you  may  feel  like  writing. 

Yours  truly, 
U.  S.  GRANT. 

We  met  Mrs.  Clark  and  Roberts  in  Switzerland. 
It  was  like  being  back  home  to  meet  old  acquain- 
tances. Except  Senator  Conkling  and  some  of  our 
Government  officials  they  are  the  only  Americans 
I  have  met  that  I  felt  I  knew  very  well.  Please 
remember  me  to  Senator  Frelinghuysen  and  such 
other  friends  as  you  meet. 

A.  R.  CORBIN,  ESQ., 
Elizabeth,  N.  J. 


HOTEL  BRISTOL 
5  PLACE  VENDOME. 

Paris, 
Oct.  25tH,  '77. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CORBIN: 

OUR  trip  has  been  a  most  agreeable  one 
though  the  time  seems  long.  I  can  scarcely 
realize  that  but  little  more  than  five 
months  have  passed  since  we  sailed  from  Philadel- 
phia. But  we  have  received  nothing  but  kindness 
wherever  we  have  been.  In  England,  as  you  may 
have  seen,  our  reception  has  been  as  enthusiastic 
as  anything  in  the  States  directly  after  the  war. 
We  are  now  in  Paris  for  the  first  time.  As  yet  I 
have  seen  but  little  of  it,  though  enough  to  know 
that  it  is  a  most  beautiful  city.  We  shall  probably 
remain  here  over  a  month,  and  then  make  a  trip 
through  Spain  and  Portugal,  and  up  the  Medi- 
terranean, in  a  naval  vessel,  stopping  at  all  points 
of  interest  on  both  sides.  Mrs.  Grant  finds  she 
has  brought  too  much  baggage  with  her  and  pro- 
poses to  send  two  or  three  trunks  back,  clothing 

134 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant        135 

brought  from  the  States,  and  wants  to  send  them 
either  to  Jennie  or  Mrs.  Sharp  to  keep  until  our 
return.  If  they  are  sent  to  you  I  will  advise  you 
when  they  are  shipped. 

We  were  disappointed  in  not  getting  to  Copen- 
hagen while  Mary  was  there.  But  Switzerland 
was  so  agreeable,  and  there  were  so  many  points 
of  interest  to  visit  that  I  found  it  impossible  to  get 
there  and  return  to  Scotland  at  the  time  I  had 
promised.  It  is  now  very  doubtful  whether  we  will 
not  have  to  abandon  the  idea  of  going  there  alto- 
gether. That  will  depend  however  upon  whether 
we  remain  over  another  year.  This  winter  we 
propose  to  go  up  the  Nile,  and  may  keep  on  east 
and  return  by  San  Francisco.  But  if  we  return  we 
will  stop  in  Italy  until  the  weather  begins  to  get 
warm  in  the  Spring  and  then  go  north  through 
Austria,  North  Germany,  Russia,  Sweden,  Norway 
and  back  by  Denmark  and  Holland,  spend  the 
latter  part  of  the  summer  again  in  Switzerland, 
and  go  east  the  following  winter.  Jesse  will 
hardly  go  with  us  unless  we  go  through  this  winter. 
He  does  not  wish  to  leave  another  year  before 
beginning  the  battle  of  life. 

Give  Mrs.  Grant's,  Jesse's  and  my  love  to 
Mother  and  Jennie,  and  Mary  if  she  is  with  you. 

I  keep  very  little  track  of  political  matters  at 


136      Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

home,  knowing  from  experience  the  trouble  a  "  new 
hand  at  the  bellows "  has.  I  hope  all  will  be 
smooth  and  satisfactory  before  my  return.  I  have 
not  yet  experienced  any  discomfort  from  lack  of 
employment  after  sixteen  years  of  continuous 
care  and  responsibilities.  I  may  however  feel  it 
when  I  once  settle  down,  though  I  think  not. 

Very  truly  yours, 
U.  S.  GRANT. 

P.S.     Direct  letters  to  the  care  of  Drexel,  Harjes, 
&  Co.,  Bankers,  Paris,  France. 


Paris   France, 
Nov   27tH.'77. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CRAMER: 

I  AM  just  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  2ist 
inst.  enclosing  one  from  the  Portuguese  Min- 
ister to    Denmark   recounting   the   cause   of 
his  brother-in-law's  removal  from  the  diplomatic 

service.     I    know     Baron     de     S ,    and    the 

Baroness  very  well  and  esteem  them  very  highly. 
There  was  never  any  difficulty  with  him  and  the 
State  Department,  or  with  any  official  at  Washing- 
ton that  I  have  any  recollection  of.  I  am  very 
sure  that  no  cause  of  complaint  could  have  existed 
on  our  part  without  my  knowing  it.  It  would 
afford  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to  meet  the  Baron 
and  his  wife  during  my  European  tour,  but  I  fear 
I  shall  not  be  able  to  do  so.  My  trip  through 
Spain  and  Portugal  has  been  put  off,  or  at  least 
postponed,  for  this  year.  On  Saturday  we  leave 
here  for  the  South  of  France,  from  there  to  take  a 
naval  vessel  to  visit  all  points  of  interest  on  the 
Mediterranean.  We  shall  probably  go  up  the 
Nile,  and  spend  the  winter  in  a  warm  climate,  to 

137 


138      Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

be  ready  for  our  northern  tour  in  the  spring.  It  is 
barely  possible  that  when  we  return  from  up  the 
Nile  we  may  go  on  East,  through  China  and  Japan 
to  San  Francisco.  But  this  is  not  probable  for 
another  year.  This  will  probably  be  the  last 
opportunity  I  shall  ever  have  of  visiting  Europe, 
and  there  is  much  to  see  that  I  have  not  seen,  and 
cannot  see  this  winter. 

I  hear  from  home  occasionally,  but  not  as  often, 
probably,  as  you  do.  All  were  well  by  the  last 
advices  received  two  days  ago  from  Orville. 

Please  assure  your  colleague  that  I  have  no 
recollection  of  other  than  the  most  pleasant  rela- 
tions between  U.  S.  officials  and  the  Baron  de  S. 

With  kind  regards  of  Mrs.  Grant,  Jesse  and 
myself,  I  am, 

Very  truly, 
U.  S.  GRANT. 


Cairo,  Egypt, 
JanV  13tH,  '78. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CORBIN: 

I  AM  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  December  '77 
at  this  remote,  but  historically  interesting 
quarter  of  the  globe.  We  have  been  in 
Cairo  since  last  Tuesday.  This  is  Sunday.  I 
have  seen  the  city  very  thoroughly;  visited  the 
pyramids;  the  Virgin  Mary's  tree  where  she  took 
shelter  some  twenty  centuries  ago ;  the  spring  which 
became  sweet  from  being  saline,  on  her  quenching 
her  thirst  from  it,  and  which  remains  sweet  to  this 
day, — while  I  was  there  water  was  being  pumped 
from  it,  by  ox  power,  with  a  revolving  wheel,  to 
irrigate  the  neighboring  ground — ;  Heliopolis,  the 
great  seat  of  learning  in  the  days  of  Moses,  and 
where  he  was  taught,  and  where  the  father-in-law 
of  Joseph  was  a  teacher.  The  tree  and  the  well  are 
at  Heliopolis,  about  six  miles  from  here. 

On  Tuesday  we  start  up  the  Nile  on  a  special 
steamer  provided  by  the  Khedive.  We  expect  to 
go  as  far  as  to  the  first  rapids  stopping  at  all  the 
points  of  interest  on  the  way.  This  will  probably 

139 


140      Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

take  three  weeks.  On  our  return  we  expect  to  go  to 
Suez,  thence  by  Canal  to  Port  Said,  and  then  take 
our  steamer  again.  From  Port  Said  we  will  go  to 
Joppa  and  out  to  Jerusalem.  Returning  to  Joppa 
we  will  go  to  Beirout,  and  out  to  Damascus — 
possibly  diverging  to  visit  Baalbec,  thence  to 
Smyrna  from  which  we  will  visit  Ephesus,  thence 
to  Constantinople.  Returning  we  will  stop  a  few 
days  at  Athens,  thence  to  old  Syracuse  on  the 
island  of  Sicily,  then  to  some  convenient  point  on 
the  Italian  coast  from  which  to  reach  Rome.  We 
will  remain  in  Rome  for  several  weeks.  Should 
you  write  me  any  time  within  six  weeks  from  this 
directed  to  the  care  of  our  Minister  at  Rome,  the 
letter  will  reach  me. 

Altogether  we  have  had  a  most  pleasant  visit. 
Our  return  to  America  during  this  year  depends 
somewhat  on  circumstances,  principally  the  means 
to  stay  away  longer.  It  is  likely  this  will  be  the 
last  opportunity  I  shall  ever  have  of  travelling 
abroad  and  I  am  desirous  of  making  the  most  of 
the  pleasant  opportunity. — Give  our  love  to 
Mother,  Jennie  and  Mary,  and  accept  my  thanks 
for  your  kind  offers. 

Very  truly  yours, 
U.  S.  GRANT. 


Constantinople, 
MarcK  5th.  '78. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CRAMER: 

ON  my  arrival  here  I  found  your  letter  in- 
quiring especially  about  the  time  I  expect 
to  be  in  Copenhagen.     My  plan  is  to  be  in 
Sweden  by  the  middle  of  June,  and  after  visiting 
that  country  and  Norway,  to  return  by  way  of 
Copenhagen.     It  is  not  likely  that  I  shall  be  there 
before  the  fifth  to  the  tenth  of  July,  and  it  may  be 
that  I  shall  like  the  northern  country  so  well  that 
my  visit  to  Copenhagen  will  be  postponed  even  a 
month  longer. 

We  have  had  a  delightful  winter.  Over  a 
month  was  spent  in  Egypt,  visiting  the  old  ruins 
of  that  country  under  the  most  favorable  circum- 
stances. Leaving  Cairo  we  visited  Suez  and  passed 
through  the  Suez  Canal  to  Port  Said.  From  the 
latter  place  we  went  to  Joppa  and  out  to  Jerusalem. 
Since  then  we  visited  Smyrna  and  Ephesus  and 
are  now  here.  The  Russians  are  outside  of  the 
city  but  do  not  come  in.  A  stranger  would  not 

detect  from  appearances  that  an  enemy  was  so 

141 


142      Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

near.  In  fact  I  think  the  Turks  now  regard  the 
Russians  as  about  the  only  people  in  Europe  from 
whom  they  can  expect  anything. 

When  you  write  home  give  my  love  to  Mother, 
Mary  and  children,  and  Jennie. 

I  will  inform  you  later,  when  I  know  definitely, 
about  the  time  to  expect  me  in  Copenhagen. 

Very  truly  yours, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 


Rome,  Italy, 
MarcK  29tH,  '78. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CORBIN: 

MR.  YOUNG,  of  the  New  York  Herald,  has 
been  with  us  from  the  time  we  went  on 
shipboard  until  we  arrived  here.  His 
letters  published  in  the  papers  are  all  good,  and 
save  me  writing  descriptive  letters.  Presuming 
that  you  have  read  them  I  will  say  nothing  further 
than  that  my  winter  travels,  in  the  Mediterranean, 
on  the  Nile,  and  in  the  Levant  generally  have  been 
the  pleasantest  of  my  life.  I  should  enjoy  doing 
it  over  again  next  winter.  We  have  been  in  Rome 
eight  days.  It  is  a  city  of  great  interest.  But  one 
should  visit  it  before  making  the  Nile  trip.  Here 
you  see  modern  and  comparatively  insignificant 
ruins,  not  dating  back  many  centuries  before  the 
beginning  of  the  Christian  era.  On  the  Nile  one 
sees  grand  ruins,  with  the  inscriptions  as  plain  and 
distinct  as  when  they  were  first  made,  that  ante- 
date Moses  by  many  centuries. 

It  was  our  plan  on  leaving  Suez  to  go  to  Florence, 
Venice,  Vienna,  Berlin,  Dresden,  St.  Petersburgh, 

143 


144  Letters  of 

through  Sweden,  Norway,  back  to  Denmark, 
through  Holland  to  Paris,  reaching  the  latter  place 
about  the  middle  of  July,  and  to  spend  six  or  eight 
weeks  there  to  see  the  Exposition  and  the  people 
that  will  fill  the  city.  I  think  now  I  will  change 
my  plan  and  go  from  Venice,  by  easy  stages,  to 
Paris,  reaching  there  early  in  May,  and  make  my 
visit  while  the  weather  is  pleasant.  I  will  then 
go  north  in  the  summer,  taking  Holland  first, 
Denmark  next,  and  Sweden  and  Norway  in  August. 
I  fear  from  present  indications  that  Mr.  Cramer 
and  Mary  will  not  be  there. 

It  looks  to  me  that  unless  the  North  rallies  by 
1880  the  Government  will  be  in  the  hands  of  those 
who  tried  so  hard  f ourteen — seventeen — years  ago 

to  destroy  it.  B is  evidently  paving  a  way 

for  re-organizing  an  army  favorable  to  such  a 
change. 

I  think  now  we  will  not  return  to  the  States  until 
about  a  year  from  May.  I  have  no  idea  where  we 
will  live  on  our  return,  and  if  we  should  go  back 
in  the  fall  we  would  have  to  determine  the  question 
without  delay.  We  can  go  back  in  May  and 
occupy  our  Long  Branch  house  and  have  all 
summer  to  prepare  for  the  winter. 

I  was  getting  some  little  mosaics — specialties 
of  Rome — to-day  and  I  bought,  among  other  things, 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  H5 

what  I  think  a  very  pretty  pin  and  earrings  for 
Jennie.  I  have  also  got  bracelets  for  Clara  Cramer 
and  Jennie  Grant.  If  I  see  an  opportunity  of 
sending  them  home  before  going  myself  I  will  send 
them.  I  have  written  to  Buck  to  come  over  and 
spend  his  vacation  with  us.  I  can  send  them  with 
him. 

Give  our  love  to  Mother,  Jennie,  Mary  and  the 
children. 

Yours  very  truly, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 

P.  S.  It  is  very  kind  in  Mr.  Clark,  and  the 
gentlemen  associated  with  him,  to  send  the  message 
you  convey  from  them;  but  they  must  recollect 
that  I  had  the  harness  on  for  sixteen  years  and  feel 
no  inclination  to  wear  it  again.  I  sincerely  hope 
that  the  North  will  so  thoroughly  rally  by  next 
election  as  to  bury  the  last  remnant  of  secession 
proclivities,  and  put  in  the  Executive  chair  a  firm 
and  steady  hand,  free  from  Utopian  ideas  purifying 
the  party  electing  him  out  of  existence. 

10 


Hotel  Liverpool,  Paris, 
May25tH,  '78. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CRAMER: 

I  AM  now  for  the  first  time  able  to  fix  approxi- 
mately the  time  of  my  visit  to  Copenhagen. 
We  shall  leave  here  on  Saturday,  three  weeks 
from  to-day,  or  on  the  following  Tuesday.  We 
shall  stop  at  The  Hague  three  or  four  days.  Jesse 
leaves  for  home  so  as  to  take  the  steamer  of  the 
fourth  of  June  from  Liverpool.  Our  party  there- 
fore will  consist  only  of  Mrs.  Grant  with  her  maid 
and  myself.  If  your  arrangements  are  made  to  be 
away  from  Copenhagen  at  the  time  mentioned 
above,  I  beg  that  you  will  not  change  your  plans. 
Should  you  be  there,  we  shall  probably  remain 
over  about  one  week.  Should  you  be  away,  we 
shall  stop  only  a  couple  of  days. 

I  have  not  heard  directly  from  Elizabeth  for 
some  time;  it  is  probably  my  own  fault,  for 
Mr.  Corbin  is  very  prompt  in  answering  every 
letter;  but  Bucky  writes  regularly  every  week 

from   New  York,  so  I  hear  indirectly.      When 

146 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant      14? 

you  write  home  give  my  love  to  all  of  them  at 
Elizabeth. 

Very  truly  yours, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 

P.  S.  I  go  from  Copenhagen  directly  to  Stock- 
holm. I  am  not  personally  acquainted  with  our 
present  Minister  there,  though  I  once  appointed 
him  to  a  South  American  Mission. 

U.  S.  G. 


Paris,  France, 
June  3d,  '78. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CRAMER: 

YOUR  letter  of  the  3ist  of  May  is  just  received. 
I  should  have  written  to  you  within  a  day 
or  two  to  inform  you  of  a  slight  change  of 
plan,  which  will  bring  me  into  Copenhagen  from 
ten  days  to  two  weeks  later  than  I  wrote  you  I 
should  be  there,  even  if  I  had  not  received  your 
letter.  To  save  retracing  my  steps,  as  I  should  be 
obliged  to  do  by  the  routes  laid  out  in  my  last 
letter,  I  now  intend  to  go  from  The  Hague  to  Berlin 
and  visit  a  few  of  the  German  cities  before  going  to 
Denmark.  From  Copenhagen  I  shall  go  by  water 
to  Norway,  thence  to  Sweden,  St.  Petersburg, 
Moscow,  and  to  Vienna. 

I  shall  be  very  glad  indeed  to  see  Mary  and  the 
children  and  hope  they  may  be  back  by  the  time  I 
reach  Copenhagen,  about  from  the  fifth  to  the 
tenth  of  July. 

Jesse  sails  from  Liverpool  to-morrow  for  home. 
He  has  been  very  homesick  for  some  time. 

With  best  regards  of  Mrs.  Grant  and  myself,  I 
am, 

Very  truly, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 


Hanover,  Germany, 
June  25tH,  '78. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CRAMER: 

MRS.  GRANT  and  I  are  now  here  on  our 
way  to  the  German  capital.  We  shall 
probably  remain  in  Berlin  until  Monday, 
the  first  of  July.  We  shall  stop  over  by  the  way 
from  Berlin  to  Copenhagen,  particularly  at  Ham- 
burg, so  as  to  reach  Copenhagen  about  the  fifth  of 
July.  If  you  will  drop  me  a  line  to  the  Kissenhof 
Hotel,  Berlin,  to  let  me  know  if  Mary  will  be  home 
at  the  time  designated  I  shall  be  obliged.  If  she 
is  not  to  be  at  home  I  may  change  my  plan  and  go 
direct  to  Sweden,  thence  to  Norway,  and  return 
thence  by  Denmark. 

Mrs.  Grant  and  I  are  both  well  and  send  much 
love  to  Mary  and  the  children. 

Very  truly  yours, 

U.  S.  GRANT 


149 


Paris,  France. 

Dec.  !OtH.'7S. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CRAMER: 

SINCE  leaving  Copenhagen  Mrs.  Grant  and  I 
have  visited  every  capital  in  Europe  not 
previously  visited  by  us. 

I  can  say  with  great  earnestness  that  no  part  of 
our  journeyings  gave  us  more  pleasure  than  that 
through  the  Scandinavian  countries,  and  no  public 
have  impressed  me  more  favorably.  If  I  were 
going  to  remain  over  another  year  I  should  go 
back  to  Norway  at  least  and  far  enough  north  to 
see  the  midnight  sun.  But  we  expect  to  leave 
Paris  about  the  middle  of  January,  to  return  to  the 
States  by  the  way  of  India,  China,  and  Japan.  The 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  has  been  kind  enough  to  invite 
us  to  go  on  a  man-of-war  which  leaves  the  United 
States  to-day  for  the  Chinese  squadron,  via  the 
Mediterranean  and  Suez.  I  first  declined  but  since 
cabled  my  acceptance.  This  will  probably  bring 
us  around  home  about  next  October  or  November. 

I  am  sorry  to  say  that  I  do  not  get  favorable  news 
from  Orvil.  He  does  not  seem  to  improve. 

150 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

Julia  joins  me  in  love  to  Mary  and  the  children 
and  in  kindest  regards  to  yourself. 

I  hope  you  did  not  forward  the  stones  presented 
by  the  Consul. — Julia  says  to  tell  Mary  that  she 
got  a  very  rich  fur  cloak  in  Paris  and  hopes  she 
got  one  also.  Is  there  anything  we  can  do  for  you 
in  Paris? 

Very  truly  yours, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 


Rangoon,  Burma, 
MarcK  2Oth,  '79. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  CRAMER: 

WE  have  now  been  very  well  through  India 
and  are  this  far  on  our  way  to  the  farther 
East.  The  weather  has  been  pleasant 
until  within  the  last  few  days.  But  now  it  is 
becoming  very  warm,  and  as  we  have  yet  to  go 
through  the  Straits  of  Malacca  near  the  equator 
before  turning  north,  we  must  expect  some  dis- 
comfort. I  have  been  very  much  pleased  with 
English  rule  and  English  hospitality  in  India. 
With  that  rule  two  hundred  and  fifty  millions  of 
uncivilized  people  are  living  at  peace  with  each 
other,  and  are  not  only  drawing  their  subsistence 
from  the  soil  but  are  exporting  a  large  excess  over 
imports  from  it.  It  would  be  a  sad  day  for  the 
people  of  India  and  for  the  commerce  of  the  world 
if  the  English  should  withdraw.  We  hope  to  be 
in  Hong  Kong  by  the  middle  of  April,  and  farther 
north  in  China  as  soon  thereafter  as  possible. 
When  a  good  climate  is  reached  we  shall  regulate 
our  further  movements  by  the  reports  of  weather 

152 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant       i53 

on  seas  to  be  traversed,  and  climate  of  places  to  be 
visited.  At  present,  however,  we  expect  to  reach 
San  Francisco  about  the  first  half  of  July.  Al- 
though homesick  to  be  settled  down  I  dread  getting 
back.  The  clamor  of  the  partisan  and  so-called 
independent  press  will  be  such  as  to  make  life 
there  unpleasant  for  a  time. 

Mrs.  Grant  joins  me  in  love  to  you,  Mary,  and 
the  children. 

I  have  to-day  written  a  letter  to  Mr.  Corbin. 

Very  truly  yours, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 

P.  S.  Julia  asks  me  to  add,  to  tell  Mary  that  the 
English  speak  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  work 
being  done  all  through  this  country  by  the  mission- 
aries, especially  in  an  educational  way.  They 
say  they  are  doing  much  good. 


[To  his  niece,  Clara  Cramer.] 

New  YorK  City. 
Sept.  27tK,  1883, 

MY  DEAR  CLARA: 

ON  my  return  from  the  trip  over  the  North 
Pacific  Railroad  to  the  Pacific  Coast  last 
Friday,  I  found  your  excellent  and  welcome 
letter,  with  enclosures.     Your  aunt  was  very  much 
pleased  with  your  letter  and  poetry  as  well  as  with 
your  essay.     They  all  do  you  great  credit,  and  I 
think  you  can  well  sustain  yourself  as  a  writer 
with  any  young  lady  of  your  age  in  this  or  any 
other  land. 

My  trip  over  the  northern  route  to  the  Pacific 
about  completes  my  personal  observation  of  every 
part  of  our  country.  I  was  not  prepared  to  see 
so  rich  a  country  or  one  so  rapidly  developing. 
Across  the  continent  where  but  a  few  years  ago 
the  Indian  held  undisputed  sway,  there  is  now  a 
continuous  settlement,  and  every  ten  or  fifteen 
miles  a  town  or  city,  each  with  spires  of  the  school 
house  and  the  church.  The  soil  for  almost  the 
entire  distance  is  as  fertile  as  that  of  Illinois.  I  saw 

154 


Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant        155 

your  Aunt  Jennie  yesterday.  She  is  quite  well. 
All  my  family  are  well  and  join  in  love  to  you.  I 
think  neither  your  Aunt  nor  I  will  ever  visit  Europe 
again.  We  may,  however,  change  our  minds.  But 
we  are  getting  a  little  too  old  to  enjoy  travelling, 
and  then  we  have  such  pleasant  homes  for  both 
summer  and  winter. 

Love  to  your  father  and  mother. 

Yours  truly, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 


3  East  66tK  Street, 
June  lOtH'84 

DEAR  CLARA: 

X7OUR  letter,  with  one  from  your  Aunt  Jennie, 
reached  me  a  few  days  since.  I  regret  that 
I  have  not  more  cheerful  news  to  write  you 
than  I  have.  Financially  the  Grant  family  is 
ruined  for  the  present,  and  by  the  most  stupendous 
frauds  ever  perpetrated.  But  your  Aunt  Jennie 
must  not  fret  over  it.  I  still  have  a  home  and  as 
long  as  I  live  she  shall  enjoy  it  as  a  matter  of  right ; 
at  least  until  she  recovers  what  she  has  lost.  Fred 
is  young,  active,  honest,  and  intelligent,  and  will 
work  with  a  vim  to  recuperate  his  losses.  Of 
course  his  first  effort  will  be  to  repay  his  aunts. — 
We  go  to  Long  Branch  this  week.  We  expected 
to  live  with  Fred  this  summer  in  Morristown,  N.  J. 
But  failing  to  rent  our  cottage  we  will  occupy  it 
and  Fred  will  live  with  us  and  rent  his  if  he  can. 
All  send  love  to  you,  your  father  and  mother  and 
Aunt  Jennie. 

Yours  affectionately, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 


156 


[To  Mrs.  Cramer.  General  Grant  was  then  writing  his 
Memoirs.  Dr.  Cramer  was  United  States  Minister  to 
Switzerland  from  1881  to  1885.  Simpson  is  U.  S.  Grant, 
son  of  Orvil  Grant.  Reference  is  made  to  the  customary 
resignation  of  diplomatic  officials  of  the  party  opposed  to 
the  incoming  political  party.  Cleveland  became  President 
in  1885.] 

New  YorK  City. 
JanV  13tH,  1885. 

DEAR  SISTER: 

I  AM  just  in   receipt  of  Jennie's  letter  of  the 
2nd  of  January.      I  am   busy   on  my  book 
which  Fred  is  copying  for  the  press.     I  hope 
to  have  it  ready  for  the  press  by  May  next.     But 
I  may  fail  in  this  on  account  of  weakness.     My 
mouth  has  been  very  sore,  but  not  so  bad  I  think 
as  the  papers  have  made  out.     But  it  has  been 
bad  enough.     The  rest  of  the  family  are  all  well. 
My  advice  is  that  Mr.  Cramer  does  not  resign 
until  he  is  asked  to.     Simpson  I  do  not  suppose 
will  be  disturbed  in  his  position.     He  is  very  com- 
petent, and  the  soul  of  honor,  both  qualities  wanted 
in  the  Sub-treasury. 
All  send  love. 

Yours  affectionately, 
U.  S.  GRANT. 


157 


PROCLAMATION  TO  THE  CITIZENS  OF  PADUCAH! 

I  HAVE  come  among  you,  not  as  an  enemy,  but 
as  your  friend  and  fellow-citizen,  not  to 
injure  or  annoy  you,  but  to  respect  the 
rights,  and  to  defend  and  enforce  the  rights  of  all 
loyal  citizens.  An  enemy,  in  rebellion  against  our 
common  Government,  has  taken  possession  of, 
and  planted  its  guns  upon  the  soil  of  Kentucky  and 
fired  upon  our  flag.  Hickman  and  Columbus  are 
in  his  hands.  He  is  moving  upon  your  city.  I  am 
here  to  defend  you  against  this  enemy  and  to  assert 
and  maintain  the  authority  and  sovereignty  of 
your  Government  and  mine.  I  have  nothing  to  do 
with  opinions.  I  shall  deal  only  with  armed  re- 
bellion and  its  aiders  and  abettors. 

You  can  pursue  your  usual  avocations  without 
fear  or  hindrance.  The  strong  arm  of  the  Govern- 
ment is  here  to  protect  its  friends,  and  to  punish 
only  its  enemies.  Whenever  it  is  manifest  that 
you  are  able  to  defend  yourselves,  to  maintain 
the  authority  of  your  Government,  and  protect  the 
rights  of  all  its  loyal  citizens,  I  shall  withdraw  the 
forces  tinder  my  command  from  your  city. 

U.  S.  GRANT, 
Brig-Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  Commanding. 

PADUCAH,  Sept.  6th,  1861. 

158 


[The  following  letter  is  from  the  secretary  of  General 
Grant's  aunt,  the  Aunt  Rachel  referred  to  on  page  twenty- 
seven.  It  is  included  in  this  volume  as  a  historical 
curiosity.] 

CKestnut  Hill,  Va. 
June  5tK.  1861. 

Miss  GRANT: 

I  HAVE  not  often  written  to  "incog."  corre- 
spondents, nor  should  I  have  the  presumption 
now  to  address  you,  unknown  to  me  (unless 
by  reputation),  but  that  peculiar  circumstances 
have  so  combined  as  to  induce  the  experiment. 
Your  Aunt,  Mrs.  Tompkins,  has  been  prostrated 
by  illness  for  many  days,  and,  for  a  while,  closely 
confined  to  her  couch;  thus  rendering  it  at  least 
inconvenient  to  respond  to  your  elaborate  epistle, 
and,  having  permitted  me  the  pleasure  (?)  of  its 
perusal,  she  requested  me  to  act  as  her  Amanuensis. 
In  compliance,  then,  with  her  desire  I  shall  proceed 
"ex  abrupto"  to  discuss  the  various  points  you 
have  presented;  hoping  you  will  pardon  whatever 
of  presumption  there  attaches  to  me  in  taking  up  a 
gauntlet  thrown  not  directly  at  my  own  feet. 

First,  then,  you  deplore  the  deep  distress  that 
pervades  our  land,  in  anticipation  of  a  conflict 
such  as  the  civilized  world  never  witnessed,  and 

JV..P        .1..      |f|    ,     -VI P*.: k 

159 


160  Letters  of 

even  the  annals  of  barbarous  history  scarce  rec*; 
together  with  the  inevitable  consequence,  that, 
our  once  (though  many  years  ago)  happy  Union 
must  be  for  ever  dissolved.  Viewing  it  from  our 
standpoint  I  unite  my  voice  of  lamentation  with 
yours ;  for  it  seems  truly  a  mournful  sight  to  behold, 
spread  out  to  the  gaze  of  the  world,  the  history  of 
a  nation's  folly,  written  in  letters  of  blood.  But  I 
look  at  the  brighter  side  of  this  distorted  photo- 
graph. With  the  eye  of  faith  at  least  I  can  discern 
the  hand  of  Providence  shifting  the  scenes.  This 
may  seem  strange,  that  a  partition  wall  should  be 
erected  in  the  Temple  of  Liberty,  once  an  asylum 
for  an  oppressed  world.  That  the  "  Stars  and 
Stripes" — the  (once)  badge  of  freedom,  gracing 
the  bosom  of  every  sea — should  be  riddled  from  its 
staff  and  another  substituted  in  its  stead.  Not 
less  strange,  however,  did  thousands  of  good 
Englishmen  deem  it,  to  behold  the  proud  "British 
Lion"  quail  before  his  foe  of  "the  wilderness,"  and 
the  "Magna  Charta"  rent  in  twain.  We  must 
look  upon  it  then  as  an  exercise  of  God's  retribu- 
tive justice  for  our  Sins  as  a  people,  or,  that  He 
designs  that  He  shall  ultimately  be  the  more 
glorified  by  the  separation.  In  the  former  case  of 
course  I  take  it  that  the  North  will  receive  the 
awful  visitation,  for  although  offences  must  needs 


Ulysses  S.  Grant 

come,  yet,  woe  be  unto  him  through  whom  they 
come !  In  the  latter  condition  the  South  is  destined 
to  become  what  (&  indeed  far  more  than)  the 
whole  America  once  was  to  the  world.  This 
Government  was  far  too  large  to  prosper  well  for 
many  years;  or  at  least  comp?  to  England 
(prosper),  France  and  Spain,  &  Russia  itself; 
but  especially  should  we  be  divided  into  2  great 
gov's  since  we  have  virtually  been  so,  as  to  our 
domestic  institutions,  and  many  of  our  social 
customs,  for  many,  many  years.  It  is  true  we  did 
exist  many  years  also  in  commercial  and  social 
prosperity,  &  might  have  continued  to  maintain 
such  a  happy  condition  had  not  the  "  green-eyed 
monster,  jealousy,  reared  his  horrid  front. "  Yes, 
it  was  in  great  part  jealousy.  You  yourself  have 
admitted  (&  rightly)  that  our  great  Ancestors 
were  wiser  than  we.  Well  when  they  formed  the 
Original  Confed?  they  were  the  Rep's1  of  Slave 
States,  with  one  exception.  They  did  not  deem  it 
wrong  in  itself,  or  they  would  have  abolished  it — 
at  least  would  not  have  made  the  "  Fugitive  S. 
Law"  for  its  protection.  After  a  while,  however,  it 
did  not  pay  to  keep  Slavery  in  Northern  climates, 
&  it  was  abolished  instanter.  Why  then  was  it 
that  it  became  such  a  monstrous  crime  in  their 

1  Representatives. 


162  Letters  of 

eyes?  Wherein  was  the  consistency?  Partisans 
became  jealous  of  the  wealth  &  power  of  Southern 
planters  &  South?  politicians,  elevated  to  their 
power  through  their  wealth — a  thing  unavoidable 
in  a  Republican  government.  Thus,  through 
demagogues  at  the  North  an  animosity  was 
aroused.  It  slumbered  long  in  the  germ,  but  being 
assiduously  cherished  from  year  to  year  it  at  last 
budded  and  bloomed  in  a  clime  congenial  to  its 
nature,  &  is  now  bringing  forth  its  venomous 
fruit,  even  to  a  "hundred  fold."  It  was  the 
consuming  of  this  pernicious  fruit  that  brought 
death  upon  our  "Body  Politic"  and  produced 
all  our  woe.  Would  to  God  that  woe  should  fall 
upon  none  but  those  who  "planted  &  watered" 
it!  I  am  perfectly  conscious  and  cognizant  of  the 
manner  in  which  this  spirit  of  enmity  has  been 
fostered.  I  am  a  Northern  by  birth  and  education, 
&  can  testify  to  that  which  I  know.  I  have  also 
been  in  the  South  sufficiently  long  to  know  the 
sentiments  of  the  people  here,  and  how  they 
coincide  (or  rather  disagree)  with  the  Northern 
conceptions  of  them.  I  have  spent  almost  8  years 
here —  certainly  long  enough  to  learn  the  character 
of  the  "peculiar  institution"  as  well  as  its  practical 
workings  &  effect  on  society.  And  as  I  came  with 
somewhat  of  prejudice  against  it,  you  must  be 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  I63 

frank  enough  to  acknowledge  me  a  fair  judge  in 
the  matter.  Among  the  first  books  put  into  my 
youthful  library,  was  a  work  called  Charles  Ball, 
or  The  Trials  of  a  Run- Away  Slave.  This  was  a 
horrid  thing,  and  formed  an  impression  on  my 
young  mind  that  has  only  with  the  utmost  difficulty 
been  eradicated.  I  am  conscious  that  its  contents 
are  false.  About  the  same  time,  &  repeatedly,  I 
was  taken  to  witness  a  panorama  of  Uncle  Tom's 
Cabin — another  book  whose  leaves  have  furnished 
much  fuel  to  infernal  flames.  At  the  same  time, 
&  ever  since,  I  have  had  my  ears  grated  with  the 
harsh  jargon  of  fanatical  tirades  against  the  insti- 
tutions &  people  of  the  South.  Of  course  then  my 
mind  was  poisoned  &  prejudiced.  And  this  has 
not  been  my  political  training  alone  but  that  of  a 
majority  of  your  youth  at  the  North — no  further 
North  too  than  Penna.  How  then  is  it  possible 
that  the  North  can  entertain  amicable  feelings 
toward  the  South?  Add  to  this,  what  you  rightly 
remark,  that  the  popular  mind  is  continually  in- 
fluenced by  the  issues  of  the  Press — an  instrument 
that  has  scattered  the  seeds  of  discord  broadcast 
over  the  land.  And  here  you  either  ignorantly  or 
designedly  intimate  a  slander  against  the  South. 
You  say  "all  papers  have  free  issue  at  the  North 
&  not  so  at  the  South."  Now  do  you  not  know 


164  Letters  of 

enough  of  Southern  affairs  to  see  that  the  South 
by  their  very  Constitution  cannot  admit  incendiary 
documents  to  be  cast  into  their  midst — it  were 
suicidal.  If  the  South  should  publish  papers 
uttering  sentiments  detrimental  to  Northern 
manufactories  (in  general)  &  in  favor  of  foreign 
manufac's,  how  long  would  the  North  permit 
such  papers  to  pass  into  their  territory?  Again, 
just  as  you  say  you  "wish  that  North"  papers 
could  circulate  South, "  so  also  do  I  wish  that  I 
need  not  bar  my  doors  of  nights.  And  both  our 
desires  could  be  accomplished  if  all  men  were 
honest.  But,  first,  as  I  can't  expect  robbers  to 
pass  by  my  unbarred  treasury,  so  I  can't  expect  to 
receive  Northern  papers  uncrammed  with  incen- 
diary items.  Again,  however,  the  South0  papers 
have  virtually  no  circulation  at  the  North.  I 
have  heard  men,  reputable  for  their  knowledge 
&  conservatism  even,  denounce  such  Publin-81  as 
"unworthy  to  be  touched."  In  the  Reading 
Room  of  Princeton  Theo0  Seminary  there 
were  taken,  last  winter,  12  weekly  papers,  and 
about  8  periodicals  from  the  South  &  scarcely  3  of 
these  were  touched  by  any  but  Southern  Students 
during  the  Session,  unless  some  exciting  discussion 
were  going  on  in  their  columns.  Thus  much  as  to 

1  Publications. 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  165 

newspapers.  I  confess  they  have  been  the  cause 
of  many  erroneous  impressions  on  both  sides,  but 
the  North  is  no  purer  from  crimination  on  this 
score  than  the  South; — one  stubborn  evidence 
of  this  is  the  numerical  dif .  in  pop1". x 

You  next  remark  that  Abolitionism  does  not 
predominate  at  the  North.  I  admit  that  for 
many  years  it  did  not,  but  lately  it  has  acquired 
an  ascendency  &  is  now  wielding  its  baneful  influ- 
ence on  the  minds  of  the  masses.  It  is  true  there 
are  many  good  people  there  whose  minds  are  too 
pure  to  be  tainted  by  such  an  almost  infidel  spirit 
as  pervades  the  breasts  of  Abolitionists;  yet  the 
party  in  power  has  been  elevated  by  such  vast 
majorities  of  the  people,  in  that  section,  that,  to 
one  investigating  the  matter,  it  seems  the  public 
sentiment  at  the  North  has  greatly  changed  in  the 
last  few  years.  In  such  a  country  as  ours — a 
democratic  one — the  masses  are  governed  by  a 
few  great  leaders;  these  leaders,  whether  in  power 
or  not,  are  still  the  almost  despots  who  rule  us. 
Their  actions  give  fruit  and  coloring  to  the  char- 
acter of  the  sections  over  which  they  sway  their 
autocratic  sceptres.  Who  then  can  doubt  the 
Aboli?  propensities  of  the  N.  when  such  men  as 
Beecher,  Greeley,  Webb,  Phillips,  Sumner,  &  a  host 

1  Population. 


i66  Letters  of 

of  kindred  spirits,  are  the  giant  levers  in  the 
machinery  of  their  society?  It  will  not  do  to  say 
that  these  are  disregarded  by  sensible  people 
there,  for  I  know  too  well  their  power  for  evil. 
I  know  that  Dr.  Hodge — a  man  whom  I  love  next 
to  my  Father — stated,  in  his  article  on  "the  state 
of  the  Country, "  that  he  did  not  know  of  12 
abolitionists  "within  thecircleof  his  acquaintance." 
But  the  Dr.  was  either  wofully  mistaken  or  he 
did  n't  consider  his  pupils  as  belonging  to  that 
circle;  for  to  my  certain  knowledge  there  were 
twice  that  number  within  the  walls  of  "Princeton " 
at  the  time  he  made  the  assertion,  and  many  of 
these  avowedly  such — men  who,  I  was  astonished 
to  see,  withheld  their  names  when  the  same  Dr.  H. 
came  round  with  a  petition  to  Congress  for  "the 
restoration  of  the  Mis.  Comp. "  &  the  repeal  of  the 
"  Personal  Liberty  Bills. "  These  young  men  were 
embryo  Ministers — men  whose  moral  influence 
must  be  powerful  for  good  or  for  evil.  How  is  it 
then  you  can  assert  that  the  North  don't  want  the 
extinction  of  slavery  when  such  men  as  I  have 
mentioned  exert  every  effort  to  prevent  its  exten- 
sion &  not  that  only,  but  the  operation  of  the 
fugitive  S.  law?  I  am  aware  that  you  stated  the 
contrary  in  your  letter — that  the  North  are  ever 
" rigorous "  in  its  execution;  nor  am  I  so  ungallant 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  167 

as  to  doubt  your  veracity;  but  I  think  you  have 
not  fully  informed  yourself  on  this  point,  else  you 
would  have  learned  that  in  scarcely  an  isolated 
case  has  the  Master  ever  recovered  his  property 
without  being  put  to  more  expense  &  trouble  than 
the  negro  was  worth;  although  I  am  free  to  admit, 
that  at  the  same  time  it  cost  the  U.  S.  gov.  an 
equal  if  not  greater  Amount.  Of  course  I  refer 
to  those  negroes  who  have  not  merely  crossed  the 
limits  of  a  Slave  State,  &  thus  been  caught,  but 
gone  some  distance  North.  Now  the  obligation 
to  restore  a  fugitive  Slave  is  a  constitu1.  &  moral 
obligation;  and  those  laws  designed  to  prevent  such 
restoration  are  unconsti  &  criminal — and  worthy 
of  all  condem" — and  unbecoming  the  dignity  of 
any  Sov?  State.  If  people  of  any  State  can't 
conscientiously  submit  to  the  Constitution  there 
are  only  2  courses :  they  should  endeavor  to  have  it 
peaceably  altered,  or  should  move  out  of  the  Country. 
This  is  the  opinion  of  the  most  learned  and  liberal 
men.  They  have  no  right  to  live  under  the  protec* 
of  a  Const"  &  yet  refuse  to  submit  to  its  stipula- 
tions. True  enough,  as  you  say,  the  North  wish 
not  to  have  the  Negroes  set  free  in  their  midst,  to 
overrun  and  disturb  them — this  they  declare  by 
their  actions,  for  they  take  no  care  for  or  interest 
in  the  poor  free  (almost)  brutes  in  their  midst; — • 


168  Letters  of 

yet  how  soon  will  they  be  ready  to  resist  you  most 
violently  should  you  attempt  to  take  even  one  of 
them  back,  from  his  then  wretched  abode,  to  his 
former  happier  place  in  the  service  of  a  kind 
Master?  "Oh!  consistency,  thou  art  a  jewel!" 
This  then  has  been  one  of  the  two  great  causes  of 
the  present  troubles.  The  other — the  denial  of 
equal  rights  in  the  Territories — is  still  a  greater, 
because  it  involves  a  principle;  the  former  was 
more  a  matter  of  personal  interest.  The  terri- 
tories being  purchased  in  common,  were  the  com. 
pos.  of  North  and  South.  Each  had  a  Const?  right 
to  emigrate  thither  with  their  property  &  demand 
for  it  the  protection  afforded  by  the  Const".  It 
became,  in  course  of  time,  a  matter  of  dispute 
whether  the  South  could  take  their  slaves  there  as 
property.  (As  a  matter  of  course  this  arose  from 
jealousy — the  N.  having  no  such  prop,  to  take.) 
This  great  quest,  was  decided,  however,  by  the 
Chief  Justice  in  the  highest  Tribunal  in  the  world, 
in  favor  of  the  South;  viz.  that  slaves  were  property. 
I  refer  to  the  "Dred  Scott "  Case.  This  should 
have  been  sufficient,  as  it  came  from  the  highest 
authority  in  the  Gov*.  But  some  parties  and 
people  are  never  satisfied.  Full  in  the  face  of  this 
high  official  the  Repub?  Party  declare  by  their 
Platform  orators,  &  Press,  that  slavery  shall  never 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  169 

enter  another  foot  of  territory.  Now  if  the  South 
admit  this  principle  they  acknowledge  their  in- 
feriority to  the  North — an  act  that,  even  in  the 
eyes  of  the  North,  would  not  comport  with  their 
dignity  &  honor  as  an  independent  &  free  people. 
The  South  being  thus  oppressed  then  I  assert  they 
have  a  right  (not  to  secede,  for  no  such  right  exists 
in  my  conception,  as  it  would  be  an  element  sub- 
versive of  any,  &  especially  of  a  Repub1"  gov.,) 
to  revolt — a  right  inherent  in  &  beyond  the  control 
of  all  earthly  govern1"  Yes  I  coincide  with  the 
great  Lord  Chatham  when  he  says  that  "Rebellion 
against  oppression  is  obedience  to  God."  Our 
Ancestors  rebelled  against  the  tyranny  of  British 
usurpation,  &  the  Texans  revolted  against  a  like 
despotism  exercised  by  a  Mexican  Autocrat. 
Why  then  are  the  Sovereign  States  of  America 
not  justifiable  in  throwing  off  the  yoke  or  rather 
resisting  to  have  put  upon  them,  the  yoke,  of  North- 
ern Tyranny?  To  make  the  argument  still  clearer, 
however,  as  to  the  Territories,  let  us  illustrate  it: 
Suppose  a  Repub"  Congress  decides  that  slavery 
shan  't  be  protected  in  the  Ter.  as  prop.  I  take  my 
slave  thither.  An  indictment  is  brought  against 
me.  I  am  tried  and  condemned  by  the  territorial 
court.  I  appeal  from  its  decision  to  the  Sup. 
Court  of  the  U.  S.  What  then?  From  analogy  I 


Letters  of 


conclude  that  I  shall  be  acquitted,  i.e.,  recover  my 
property.  For  one  Chief  Justice  has  already 
decided  thus;  and  is  not  his  decision  final?  Here 
then  is  an  end  of  the  matter;  since  the  Sup.  Court 
is  the  Sole  Arbiter  in  determining  the  Constitu- 
tionality of  any  of  Congress'  acts. 

As  to  the  North  not  making  use  of  slanderous 
epithets  against  the  South,  I  know  nothing  about 
your  particular  section  of  the  North,  but  I  do  know 
that  when  I  have  been  in  Penna.  &  N.  J.,  I  have 
heard  all  classes  utter  the  vilest  insinuations  against 
the  people  of  the  South  indiscriminately.  Yes, 
it  often  seemed  as  if  they  could  find  no  language 
too  harsh,  no  comparison  too  base,  no  denuncia- 
tion too  bitter  to  apply  to  those  whom  in  their 
ignorance  they  deemed  their  inferiors  in  wisdom 
and  sense.  Such  have  I  heard  from  the  lips  of 
distinguished  citizens  in  all  departments  £  pro- 
fessions of  life.  Even  hoary-headed  ministers 
have  entered  the  sacred  desk  with  their  MSS. 
reeking  with  filth  from  the  cesspool  of  political 
slander.  Dr.  Brown,  with  whom  you  are  doubtless 
acqu^,  is  now  in  Phila?  at  the  Gen.  Assem.  of  the 
Pres.  Ch.  He  wrote  home  lately  that  he  never 
saw  a  mob  that  made  use  of  viler  language  than 
did  the  best  of  citizens  there  in  their  denouncings 
of  the  South.  I  confess,  however,  that  this  is  not 


Ulysses  S.  Grant 

a  one-sided  affair;  for  I  have  heard  equally  abusive 
language  applied  to  the  North  by  the  people  South. 
As  before,  then,  let  us  "  strike  hands  "  on  this  point 
also,  for  both  sections  are  equally  culpable.  As 
to  the  strength  of  individuals  in  the  two  sections, 
it  must  be  tested  on  the  battle-field,  and  there 
alone.  Our  war  of  words  can  never  decide  any- 
thing on  this  point.  I  should  be  sorry  to  admit 
the  men  in  the  North  could  not  fight,  had  they  a 
real  enemy  to  contend  against — a  war  of  "justice, 
reason,  or  humanity"  to  wage.  But  to  arm  them- 
selves against  their  brethren,  and  in  such  an  un- 
holy cause  as  that  in  which  they  are  engaged  now, 
I  must  confess  that  their  true  metal  can  never  be 
exhibited.  One  man  whose  heart  is  in  the  war  can 
always  conquer  two  who  are  fighting  from  some 
impure  motive.  And  now  let  me  candidly  ask  you 
to  as  candidly  tell  me  whether  or  not  you  think 
after  seeing  the  thing  progress  thus  far,  and  having, 
as  you  say,  been,  &  still  continue  to  be,  well- 
informed  as  to  appern-s  on  both  sides,  the  North 
are  engaged  in  the  cause  of  " Justice/'  Admitting 
that  some  of  them  are  actuated  by  pure  and  lofty 
motives,  do  you  not  acknowledge  that  the  vast 
majority  are  blinded  by  prejudice,  led  on  by  a  desire 
for  military  fame,  prompted  by  the  prospect  of 
plunder,  or  actuated  by  the  still  more ? 


Letters  of 

but  I  refrain — my  very  pen  shudders  at  the  thought 
of  expressing  myself  further.  Yes,  I  think  you 
must  confess  that  is  the  case.  I  refer,  of  course, 
to  the  Armies  of  Lincoln  thus  far  made  up.  Are 
they  not  composed  of  a  Mercenary  horde,  made  up 
generally  of  the  lowest  rabble  of  the  Country,  & 
thousands  of  those  thrown  out  of  employment  in 
the  manufacturing  cities — who  have  resorted  to 
camp-life  for  self-sustenance — indeed  their  only 
resource?  Whether  you  admit  this  or  not,  it  is 
emphatically  true  to  a  great  extent,  for  the  North- 
ern papers  themselves  have  made  such  state- 
ments as  would  lead  me  to  believe  so,  &  more,  I 
have  correspondents  in  the  North,  who  confirm 
my  suspicions  on  this  score.  My  own  Father  who 
does  not  justify  the  attack  on  Sumter,  yet  de- 
nounces Lin's  army  as  a  set  of  Murderers!  He 
lives  in  Penna.  &  this  is  the  opinion  of  many  good 
citizens  there.  And  now  can  such  men  be  justi- 
fied in  their  present  purposes  and  activities?  If 
so,  upon  what  principles?  We  have  sh?  that  it  is 
not  in  accordance  with  sound  reason  &  the  "  in- 
exorable logic "  of  the  Constitution,  since  that 
noble  edifice  was  attacked  in  two  points  simul- 
taneously by  the  Repubcn  party:  i°.  by  abrogating 
the  Fugitive  Slave  Law;  2°.  by  depriving  the  South 
of  eq*  rights  in  the  Territories.  These  are  2 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  173 

points  in  which  the  North  has  transgressed  the 
limits  of  immutable  Justice,  and  nothing  which  is 
unjust  can  be  reasonable,  for,  they  (Just.  &  Reas.) 
are  twin  sisters.  Moreover,  the  Bible  justifies  no 
war  but  that  of  self-defence.  Then  are  the  North 
invaded?  No,  nor  never  will  be,  by  the  South, 
for  all  they  ask  is  peace  within  their  borders. 
While  they  hold  in  one  hand  the  sword  of  self- 
defence,  they  present  the  "Olive  Branch'*  with 
the  other;  and  so  God  grant  it  may  be  ever. 

You  lament  the  inconceivable  disasters  "  in- 
augurated by  the  attack  on  Sumter. "  True 
enough  they  may  have  been  inaugurated  by  that 
act,  but  their  unconcealed  cause  lies  far  back  of 
that,  as  we  have  shown.  That  was  only  a  raising 
of  the  curtain,  or  rather  a  forcing  of  it  to  be  raised 
by  the  Abolitionists — a  beginning  of  the  bloody 
drama.  Who  caused  the  attack?  What  meant 
those  human  cargoes  that  approached  so  close  to  its 
walls  the  day  before  the  battle?  Why  did  the 
worthy  (?)  Lincoln  so  long  deceive  the  South"1 
Commissioners  by  promise  after  promise  not  to 
make  war,  but  to  evacuate  the  fort,  &  meet  them, 
as  a  sensible  Pres.  would  have  done,  in  friendly 
negotiation  for  peace?  S.  C.  was  right,  and  acted 
nobly  in  the  affair,  and  was  as  justifiable  therein, 
as  was  Anderson  in  occupying  the  Fort  before  he 


174  Letters  of 

had  a  reason  for  doing  so,  declaring  by  his  overt 
act  that  the  U.  S.  forces  under  him  were  at  enmity 
with  S.  C.  But  then  you  say  S.  C.  should  have 
first  tried  Lincoln  before  determining  to  secede. 
I  think  she  saw  with  prophetic  vision  the  end  from 
the  beginning.  She  took  Lincoln  at  his  word — 
that  itself  was  oppression  &  tyranny  sufficient  to 
burst  asunder  the  closest  ties  of  Union  that  could 
exist  in  any  Country.  You  say  we  sh?  give  every- 
thing a  fair  trial.  I  disagree.  If  I  saw  a  serpent 
in  my  path  &  it  shd  attempt  to  make  battle,  or 
declare  its  hostility  by  displaying  its  horrid  fangs, 
do  you  think  I  would  coolly  stand  by  &  give  it  a 
fair  trial,  &  test  its  friendship?  I  would  be  im- 
pelled, even  had  I  never  seen  or  heard  of  such  a 
creature  before,  to  crush  it  immediately,  &  so 
S.  C.  has  sensibly  said  to  the  Administration 
"Serpent,  bite  a  file!11  As  to  your  Eulogium  on 
Lincoln  I  have  not  much  to  say.  If  he  pleases  you, 
well  enough,  you  're  easily  satisfied.  /  take  it 
that  he  is  a  disgrace  to  the  Chair  he  occupies ;  and 
to  judge  from  his  conversations,  he  is  devoid  of  all 
sense  of  refinement  &  etiquette;  to  look  at  his 
executive  powers  as  displayed  thus  far,  he  had 
better  be  a  Bey  than  helmsman  of  the  "  Old  Ship  " ; 
and  what  of  his  efforts  at  speeches?  In  the  lan- 
guage of  Logan,  "I  appeal  to  any  white  man"  to 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  i75 

say  if  they  would  not  be  a  disgrace  to  many  a 
' '  Country  'Squire ' ' !  And  yet  such  a  man  elevated 
to  the  highest  position  in  the  gift  of  the  American 
people!  There  was  a  time  when  the  soundest  and 
most  learned  men  of  the  land  were  made  Presidents, 
now  a  man's  capacity  for  the  office  seems  to  depend 
on  the  meanness  of  his  intellect  &  the  number  of 
rails  he  can  split  in  a  day.  And  so  great  were  his 
"maul  &  wedge"  propensities  that  he  withheld 
not  his  hand  from  splitting  the  Tree  of  Liberty. 
But  let  us  inquire  upon  which  side  "humanity" 
stands  in  this  contest.  You  complain  much  of 
several  (local)  depredations  com**  by  South  on 
private  boats  &c.  I  ask,  in  candor,  if  it  was  not 
in  retaliation  for  like  outrages  com^d  by  the  North. 
I  am  certain  as  to  its  being  so  in  several  cases. 
The  very  ist  boat  thus  ill-treated  was  one  belonging 
to  the  South  on  its  way  down  the  Miss.  &  attacked 
at  Cairo.  To  retaliate  they  determined  to  attack 
North™  boats  coming  up  the  river.  And  what  have 
your  noble  Ohioans  done  lately  &  repeatedly  with 
our  Ka.  boats  at  Gallipolis?  Thrice  have  they 
overhauled  the  same  boat  and  twice  kept  every 
pound  of  freight  on  her  timbers.  But  this  is  not  all ; 
your  humane  Lincoln  has  closed  the  Southern  ports, 
&  is  daily  robbing  vessels  on  their  way  in  &  out  of 
the  same.  During  the  last  week  he  stole  $150,000 


Letters  of 


worth  of  Southern  Tobacco,  &  thus  the  programme 
continues.  Very  humane  indeed!  Again,  he  is 
no  invader  !  No  indeed  !  by  no  means  !  yet  hundreds 
of  Citizens  are  now  fleeing  from  Wheeling,  &  other 
towns  invaded,  for  personal  safety.  Scarce  a  day 
passes  but  some  one  stops  here  who  has  thus  es- 
caped. If  they  remain  on  their  own  soil  and  round 
their  proper  hearthstone  the  (very)  humane  doom 
of  a  murderer  awaits  them!  The  North  don't 
intend  to  make  invasion  at  all,  yet  4000  Ff  troops 
are  now  in  Parkersburg,  breaking  up  printing 
presses,  putting  innocent  people  in  jail,  and  doing 
other  humane  acts,  "too  numerous  to  mention.  " 
According  to  my  letter  from  Father  I  understand 
they  don't  have  the  first  principles  of  Civilized 
warfare  —  they  intend  to  hang  all  their  prisoners. 
Oh!  humanity!  HUMANITY! 

And  now  that  we  have  seen  that  neither 
Reason,  Justice,  nor  Humanity  is  on  the  side  of  the 
North,  let  us  look  at  the  subject  in  the  light  of 
Expediency,  admitting,  for  the  sake  of  argument 
the  while,  that  it  were  right  or  just  to  wage  the 
war.  And  viewing  it  from  this  standpoint,  we 
ask,  what  does  the  North  expect  to  gain  by  it? 
Does  there  live  a  man  so  lost  to  reason  &  common 
sense  as  to  imagine  that  the  Union  of  the  seceded 
States  with  the  N.  S.  can  ever  be  effected  again? 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  i?7 

And  if  it  could  be  done  by  force,  how  long  could  a 
Repub?  Gov.  exist  as  a  military  despotism?  And 
who  would  not  prefer  banishment  or  death  to  such 
a  life?  What  Satisf ac"  could  the  North  themselves 
have  in  such  an  event?  They  would  live  a  life  of 
misery;  provoke  the  sneers  of  the  civilized  world; 
and  draw  down  upon  their  heads  the  terrible  wrath 
of  an  offended  God. 

But  this  war  will  not  be  permitted  thus  to  ter- 
minate, the  South  can  never  be  conquered.  You 
yourself  know  their  "spirit"  too  well  to  believe 
otherwise.  Rather  than  be  subjugated  they  will 
die  a  triple  death.  Like  their  mighty  Henry  they 
cry,  ''Give  us  liberty  or  give  us  death  /  "  And  still 
more  /  don't  think  they  can  be  exterminated. 
8,000,000  of  people,  armed  in  the  holy  cause  of 
self-defence;  struggling  for  their  liberties,  honor  ^ 
interests,  &  lives,  with  a  laudable  ambition,  &  an 
unyielding  perseverance,  are  invincible  by  any  force 
the  North  can  raise  to  send  against  them.  Besides 
(to  continue  the  sentiments  of  Henry),  the  battle  is 
not  to  the  strong  alone,  it  is  to  the  vigilant,  the 
active,  the  brave.  Especially  so  when,  as  I  said 
before,  the  forces  of  Lincoln  are  not  composed 
generally  of  men  of  the  first  rank  of  Society  (except 
a  few  Officers  desirous  of  Fame),  but  the  "off scour- 
ing" &  rabble  of  the  land — men  who  have  nothing 


Letters   of 


at  stake,  not  even  their  own  lives  we  might  say, 
since  they  care  so  little  for  anything.  So  that 
notwithstanding  the  immense  number  (and  here 
let  me  remind  you  of  the  disparity  of  forces,  of 
which  you  said  so  much,  at  Sumter)  —  "  stubborn 
facts  "  —  of  which  you  speak,  the  South  has  nothing 
to  fear.  And,  moreover,  as  certainly  as  I  believe 
there  exists  a  God  of  Justice  &  Mercy,  so  certainly 
&  conscientiously  do  I  believe  He  will  defend  the 
South  from  the  Vandals  of  the  North.  Yes,  dark 
as  they  seem,  the  clouds  of  gloom  do  not  shut  out 
the  star  of  hope,  and  they  are  beginning  to  be 
spanned  by  a  radiant  bow  of  promise;  the  fall  of 
Ellsworth  &  the  shattered  walls  of  the  once  presumed 
impregb!e  Sumter,  abundantly  testify  that  God  is  on 
their  side,  and  "  if  the  Lord  be  for  them,  who  can  be 
against  them?*'  So  I  heartily  say  "God  speed  " 
them  —  they  shall  have  my  prayers.  —  But  let  us 
take  one  more  glance  at  the  expediency  of  this 
matter.  Are  not  the  North  fighting  for  a  Patroclus' 
grave  in  this  struggle?  What  matters  an  abstract 
banner!  especially  to  the  "matter  of  fact"  Yankee? 
And  then  behold  the  inconsistency  of  the  North  in 
another  point;  they  have  through  their  Represen- 
tatives, for  many  years,  cried  "no  more  slave 
territory";  and  indeed  many  of  them,  such  as 
Seward  &c.,  have  declared  that  slavery  must  be 


Ulysses  S.  Grant  *79 

abolished,  as  both  can't  exist  under  the  same  gov.; 
yet,  now  they  are  fighting  to  the  death  to  keep  or 
get  back  slave  territory!!!  "Oh!  consistency!'1 
And,  finally,  at  this  point,  will  it  not  cost  myriads 
of  lives  &  millions  of  money  to  accomplish  their 
infernal  designs,  even  could  they  do  it?  And  can 
the  North  afford  this?  Even  now  it  is  costing 
Lincoln's  Anarchy  (for  I  can't  call  it  gov.)  $1,000,- 
ooo  per  day — a  matter  of  record!  Suppose  then  the 
war  sh?  last  a  year,  what  then?  Union  or  dis- 
union? Alas,  farther  separation.  Continue  it 
then  two  years  more.  What  then?  Ditto  &  ditto 
it  will  be  should  it  last  as  long  as  the  "  War  of  the 
Roses, "  for  we  have  no  houses  of  York  &  Lancaster 
to  unite,  sign  and  settle  the  dispute  by  marriage — 
one  or  both  annihilated! — And  now  I  ask  how,  in 
the  name  of  Reason,  Justice,  or  Humanity,  can 
you  lift  up  your  voice  in  defence  of  the  North 
when  they  are  the  cause  of  all  this  accumulating 
misery? — when  they  have  deprived  the  South  of 
her  Consti1"  rights,  driven  her  to  the  necessity  of  a 
separation,  and  now  raise  their  arm  against  her  as 
an  enemy,  declaring  either  to  subjugate  her,  to 
overrun  her  with  their  vandal  hordes,  or  exter- 
minate from  her  soil  every  living  creature? — & 
when,  "Oh  bloodiest  picture  in  the  book  of  time!" 
they  are  ready  to  repeat  with  a  triple  vengeance 


i8o  Letters  of 

the  untold  horrors  of  the  Spanish  Inquisition? 
They  are  madly,  blindly  rushing,  they  know  not 
where.  The  blame  of  dissolution  rests  upon  her. 
And  the  still  more  awful  responsibility  of  a  civil 
war  will  hang  as  an  everlasting  incubus  upon  her 
shoulders.  Then  let  her  beware  ere  she  cross  the 
Rubicon" — let  her  "pause  long  upon  its  brink/' 
And  shall  we  all  perish  by  her  fratricidal  hand? 
Shall  the  blood,  shed  by  brother  in  deadly  war  with 
brother,  flow  ignominiously  through  our  rivers  to 
the  ocean  &  be  carried  by  its  waves  to  stain  the 
shores  of  Nations  that  for  long  years  have  been 
centring  their  fond  hopes  on  America  as  the  grand 
ideal  of  the  gov.  they  too  would  some  day  enjoy? 
Shall  such  hopes  be  blasted  as  soon  as  fondly 
cherished?  and  now  that  Italy  has  trampled  upon 
the  tyrannical  "  Mitre " — torn  from  her  long  sub- 
dued neck  the  yoke  of  Papal  bondage — passed 
from  the  darkness  of  superstitious  bondage  into 
the  light  of  religious  freedom,  shall  we  sink  back 
to  what  she  was,  by  casting  ourselves  into  the 
whirlpool  of  civil  war?  Shall  we  not  only  put  out, 
but  shatter,  the  lamp  of  liberty,  a  lamp  whose 
effulgence  was  beginning  to  scatter  the  shades  of 
despotism  from  off  the  earth?  Shall  we  extinguish 
the  brightest  star  in  the  constellation  of  human 
freedom?  The  united  voices  of  Humanity,  Justice, 


Ulysses  S.  Grant 

&  Reason  answer,  No!  The  cries  of  myriad  free 
men  living,  &  of  millions  yet  unborn,  rend  the  air 
with  a  universal  negative!  and  from  the  vaulted 
canopy  of  heaven  there  swells  back  the  solemn 
echo,  "God  forbid!"  As  if  augmented  by  the 
mournful  strain  of  10,000  angels  hovering  in 
amazement  over  the  conflicting  scene!  Oh!  then 
let  the  North  beware! 

Mrs.  Tompkins  says  that  if  you  can  justify  your 
Bro.  Ulysses  in  drawing  his  sword  against  those 
connected  by  the  ties  of  blood,  and  even  boast  of  it, 
you  are  at  liberty  to  do  so,  but  she  can  not.  And 
should  one  of  those  kindred  be  stricken  down  by  his 
sword  the  awful  judgment  of  God  will  be  meted 
out  to  him,  &,  if  not  repented  of,  the  hot  thunder- 
bolts of  His  wrath  will  blaze  round  his  soul  through 
eternity.  On  the  contrary,  if  the  vice  versa  should 
occur,  she  thinks  "those  kin"  would  be  justified, 
because  in  self-defence.  As  to  Mr.  John  Marshall's 
being  promoted  in  the  army  of  Lincoln,  she  thinks 
that  fact  explains  itself:  he  spent  much  of  his  time 
previously  seeking,  or  at  least  expecting,  promotion, 
&  failing  in  a  laudable  way, — in  defence  of  his  own 
kindred  &  the  home  of  his  bosom  companion ! — he 
resorted  to  Yankeedom,  and  sold  as  it  were  his 
birthright  for  a  mess  of  Abolition  pottage.  This 
helps  confirm  my  view,  that  many  take  positions 


1 82       Letters  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 

in  Lincoln's  Army  with  the  expectation  of  military 
promotion,  &  the  hope  of  an  easy  conquest  of  the 
South.  Oh,  how  deluded!  But  as  for  many  of 
them,  "God  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what 
they  do." 

But  I  must  bring  these  desultory  remarks  to  a 
break-off.  So,  begging  pardon  once  more  for 
transgressing  the  limits  of  formality,  and  hoping 
you  may  live  to  see  the  verification  of  many  of  my 
remarks,  I  have  the  pleasure  of  signing  myself 

THE  SECRETARY  OF  YOUR  AUNT  RACHEL 

P.  S.  If  you  sh*  write  again,  please  use  white 
paper;  it  almost  gives  me  the  "blues"  to  read  your 
letter. 


THE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  SANTA  CRUZ 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  DATE  stamped  below. 


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